Pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic modeling

Pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic models mathematically describe a foreign chemical's movement through the body. These models describe the kinetic parameters that dictate a chemical's disposition or its absorption, distribution, metabolism and body excretion. Compartmental and physiologically based pharmacokinetic models can help predict a number of factors concerning a chemical's toxicity. Some of these factors include the following: (1) understanding a chemical's dose-response relationship; (2) predicting xenobiotic concentrations in organs/tissues; (3) assisting in the selection of an animal species to serve as a surrogate for human toxicity; and (4) evaluating whether an intervention in overdose is appropriate.