Multilayer Perceptron Model for Predicting Acute Toxicity of Fungicides on Rats

Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) models are expected to play an important role in the risk assessment of chemicals on humans and the environment. In this study, a QSAR model based on 10 molecular descriptors to predict acute oral toxicity of 91 fungicides to rats was developed and validated. Good results (PRESS/SSY = 0.085 and VIF < 5) were obtained, showing the validation of descriptors in the obtained model. The best results were obtained with a 10/11/1 Artificial Neural Network model trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. The prediction accuracy for the external validation set was estimated by the Q2ext which was equal to 0.960. Accordingly, the model developed in this study provided excellent predictions and can be used to predict the acute oral toxicity of fungicides, particularly for those that have not been tested as well as new fungicides.