A European perspective on alternatives to animal testing for environmental hazard identification and risk assessment

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Authors

SCHOLZ Stefan SELA Erika BLÁHA Luděk BRAUNBECK Thomas GALAY-BURGOS Malyka GARCIA-FRANCO Mauricio GUINEA Joaquin KLUEVER Nils SCHIRMER Kristin TANNEBERGER Katrin TOBOR-KAPLON Marysia WITTERS Hilda BELANGER Scott BENFENATI Emilio CRETON Stuart CRONIN Mark T D EGGEN Rik I L EMBRY Michelle EKMAN Drew GOURMELON Anne HALDER Marlies HARDY Barry HARTUNG Thomas HUBESCH Bruno JUNGMANN Dirk LAMPI Mark A LEE Lucy LEONARD Marc KUESTER Eberhard LILLICRAP Adam LUCKENBACH Till MURK Albertinka J NAVAS Jose M PEIJNENBURG Willie REPETTO Guillermo SALINAS Edward SCHUEUERMANN Gerrit SPIELMANN Horst TOLLEFSEN Knut Erik WALTER-ROHDE Susanne WHALE Graham WHEELER James R WINTER Matthew J

Year of publication 2013
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2013.10.003
Field Environment influence on health
Keywords Cell lines; 3Rs; QSAR; Read-across; Exposure-based waiving; Fish embryo test; Acute toxicity; Chronic toxicity; Endocrine disruption; Bioconcentration
Description Tests with vertebrates are an integral part of environmental hazard identification and risk assessment of chemicals, plant protection products, pharmaceuticals, biocides, feed additives and effluents. These tests raise ethical and economic concerns and are considered as inappropriate for assessing all of the substances and effluents that require regulatory testing. Hence, there is a strong demand for replacement, reduction and refinement strategies and methods. However, until now alternative approaches have only rarely been used in regulatory settings. This review provides an overview on current regulations of chemicals and the requirements for animal tests in environmental hazard and risk assessment. It aims to highlight the potential areas for alternative approaches in environmental hazard identification and risk assessment. Perspectives and limitations of alternative approaches to animal tests using vertebrates in environmental toxicology, i.e. mainly fish and amphibians, are discussed. Free access to existing (proprietary) animal test data, availability of validated alternative methods and a practical implementation of conceptual approaches such as the Adverse Outcome Pathways and Integrated Testing Strategies were identified as major requirements towards the successful development and implementation of alternative approaches. Although this article focusses on European regulations, its considerations and conclusions are of global relevance.
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