Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach

Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread use, persistence, and potential toxicity, often referred to as forever chemicals. This study aims to develop and validate robust in silico models for predicting the aquatic toxic...

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Main Authors: Amit Kumar Halder, Tanushree Pradhan, M. Natália D. S. Cordeiro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1246
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author Amit Kumar Halder
Tanushree Pradhan
M. Natália D. S. Cordeiro
author_facet Amit Kumar Halder
Tanushree Pradhan
M. Natália D. S. Cordeiro
author_sort Amit Kumar Halder
collection DOAJ
description Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread use, persistence, and potential toxicity, often referred to as forever chemicals. This study aims to develop and validate robust in silico models for predicting the aquatic toxicity of PPCPs. To do so, we resorted to the ECOTOX database and employed a Python-based tool to prepare and curate the dataset. Multitasking Quantitative Structure–Toxicity Relationship (mt-QSTR) models were then developed employing the Box–Jenkins moving average approach, incorporating both linear and non-linear frameworks based on diverse feature selection algorithms and machine learning techniques. To further improve the external predictivity, a consensus modeling approach was also implemented. The most accurate model achieved an overall predictive accuracy exceeding 85%, providing valuable insights into the structural features influencing PPCP toxicity. Key factors contributing to high aquatic toxicity included high lipophilicity, mass density, molecular mass, and reduced electronegativity. This work offers a foundation for designing safer PPCPs with reduced environmental impact, aligning with sustainable chemical development goals.
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spelling doaj-art-287a0da30a464ad48ee6a3cec88021c82025-08-20T02:12:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-01-01153124610.3390/app15031246Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling ApproachAmit Kumar Halder0Tanushree Pradhan1M. Natália D. S. Cordeiro2LAQV@REQUIMTE, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDr. B. C. Roy College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Meghnad Saha Sarani, Bidhannagar, Durgapur 713206, West Bengal, IndiaLAQV@REQUIMTE, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, PortugalPharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread use, persistence, and potential toxicity, often referred to as forever chemicals. This study aims to develop and validate robust in silico models for predicting the aquatic toxicity of PPCPs. To do so, we resorted to the ECOTOX database and employed a Python-based tool to prepare and curate the dataset. Multitasking Quantitative Structure–Toxicity Relationship (mt-QSTR) models were then developed employing the Box–Jenkins moving average approach, incorporating both linear and non-linear frameworks based on diverse feature selection algorithms and machine learning techniques. To further improve the external predictivity, a consensus modeling approach was also implemented. The most accurate model achieved an overall predictive accuracy exceeding 85%, providing valuable insights into the structural features influencing PPCP toxicity. Key factors contributing to high aquatic toxicity included high lipophilicity, mass density, molecular mass, and reduced electronegativity. This work offers a foundation for designing safer PPCPs with reduced environmental impact, aligning with sustainable chemical development goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1246pharmaceutical and personal care productsaquatic toxicitymultitasking in silico modelsBox–Jenkins moving average approachmachine learning
spellingShingle Amit Kumar Halder
Tanushree Pradhan
M. Natália D. S. Cordeiro
Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
Applied Sciences
pharmaceutical and personal care products
aquatic toxicity
multitasking in silico models
Box–Jenkins moving average approach
machine learning
title Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
title_full Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
title_fullStr Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
title_full_unstemmed Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
title_short Predicting the Aquatic Toxicity of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products: A Multitasking Modeling Approach
title_sort predicting the aquatic toxicity of pharmaceutical and personal care products a multitasking modeling approach
topic pharmaceutical and personal care products
aquatic toxicity
multitasking in silico models
Box–Jenkins moving average approach
machine learning
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1246
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AT tanushreepradhan predictingtheaquatictoxicityofpharmaceuticalandpersonalcareproductsamultitaskingmodelingapproach
AT mnataliadscordeiro predictingtheaquatictoxicityofpharmaceuticalandpersonalcareproductsamultitaskingmodelingapproach