Enzymic modification of environmental intoxicants: the role of cytochrome P–450

Abstract

As of November 1977, the American Chemical Society's Chemical Abstracts Service computer registry of chemicals contained 4039907 distinct entities, and has been growing at an average rate of about 6000 per week. How many of these chemicals are in everyday use? Current estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that there may be as many as 50000 commonly used chemicals, not including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and food additives. The EPA estimates that there may be as many as 1500 different active ingredients in pesticides. The Food and Drug Administration estimates that there are about 4000 active ingredients in drugs and about 2000 other ancillary compounds used in the drug industry. The FDA also estimates that there are about 2500 additives used for nutritional value and flavouring and 3000 chemicals used to preserve processed food. Thus there seem to be about 63000 chemicals in common use.