In chemico test for toxicity

A method for predicting the living dermal or ocular tissue irritancy, corrosiveness or toxicity of a test substance, the method comprising:

• applying the test substance to a predefined enzyme or enzyme mixture to effect an in chemico reaction, wherein the test substance does not preferentially or specifically bind to an active or regulatory site of the predefined enzyme or enzyme mixture, wherein the enzyme or enzyme mixture comprises a phosphatase and/or an esterase;
• measuring any reduction in enzymatic activity of the predefined enzyme or enzyme mixture on a predefined substrate;
• and,
• comparing the measured reduction in enzymatic activity to a control activity value or previously established activity value, and
• predicting the extent of, or classification of, living tissue toxicity of the test substance based on the compared measured reduction in enzymatic activity,
• wherein a reduction in enzymatic activity to 40% or less of control activity value or previously established value by said test substance indicates the test substance is corrosive or toxic to living dermal or ocular tissue, and wherein a reduction in enzymatic activity to a level which is more than 40% of control activity value or previously established value but equal to 60% or less of control activity value or previously established value indicates the test substance is an irritant to living dermal or ocular tissue.