How the Carcinogenic Potency Categorization Approach (CPCA) is used to predict nitrosamine potency categories and support acceptable-intake selection.
CPCA is a structure-based regulatory approach developed to estimate the carcinogenic potency category of nitrosamines when adequate compound-specific data are not available.
Structural basis
The approach considers the structural environment around the nitrosamine and features associated with metabolic activation or attenuation.
Potency categories
The resulting category maps to a regulatory acceptable-intake framework published by agencies.
Current tables matter
FDA and EMA periodically update accepted limits and compound-specific decisions, so static historical values should not be copied without verification.
Expert review
When compound-specific data or a justified surrogate are available, they can supersede a purely predicted category.
Frequently asked questions
Is CPCA a software-specific method?
No. It is a public regulatory approach.
Should old CPCA tables be reused indefinitely?
No. Check the current agency version.
Can read-across override a CPCA-based limit?
Agency frameworks can accept compound-specific or surrogate-based limits when adequately justified.
Does CPCA eliminate expert review?
No.
