Journal article
Optimising testing strategies for classification of human health and environmental hazards - a proof-of-concept study
This paper outlines a new concept to optimise testing strategies for improving the efficiency of chemical testing for hazard-based risk management. While chemical classification based on standard checklists of information triggers risk management measures, the link is not one-to-one. Toxicity testing may be performed with no impact on chemical safety.
Each hazard class and category is not assigned a unique pictogram and for the purpose of this proof-of-concept study, the level of concern for a chemical for the population and the environment is simplistically considered to be reflected by the hazard pictograms. Using active substances in biocides and plant protection products as dataset, three testing strategies were built with the boundary condition that an optimal approach must indicate a given level of concern while requiring less testing (strategy B), prioritising new approach methodologies (strategy C) or combining the two considerations (strategy D).
The implementation of the strategies B and D reduced the number of tests performed by 6.0% to 8.8% and strategy C relied the least on in vivo methods. The intentionally simplistic approach to optimised testing strategies presented here could be used beyond the assessment of biocides and plant protection products to gain efficiencies in the safety assessment of other chemical groups, saving animals and making regulatory testing more time- and cost-efficient.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Elsevier |
Year: | 2020 |
Pages: | 64-70 |
ISSN: | 18793169 and 03784274 |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.10.008 |
ORCIDs: | Da Silva, Emilie , Baun, Anders , 0000-0002-4791-4905 and 0000-0002-5303-0452 |
Alternative methods BPR, Biocidal Products Regulation CLP regulation CLP, Classification, Labelling and Packaging CMR, Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, toxic to Reproduction Chemical Safety Chemical safety ECHA, European Chemicals Agency EU, European Union Environmental Pollutants European Union GHS, Globally Harmonized System Government Regulation Hazard identification Hazardous Substances Humans NAMs, New Approach Methodologies OECD, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development PPR, Plant Protection Products Regulation QSAR, Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Risk Assessment Risk Management Risk management STOT – RE, Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated Exposure STOT – SE, Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure SVHC, Substances of Very High Concern TG, Test Guideline Toxicity Tests vPvB, very Persistent/very Bioaccumulative