The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology

The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology
Author:
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 384
Release: 2018-10-20
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0128136987

The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology uses a chronological approach to demonstrate how the use of alternative methods has evolved from their conception as adjuncts to traditional animal toxicity tests to replacements for them. This volume in the History of Toxicology and Environmental Health series explores the history of alternative test development, validation, and use, with an emphasis on humanity and good science, in line with the Three Rs (Replacement,Reduction, Refinement) concept expounded by William Russell and Rex Burch in 1959 in their now classic volume, The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. The book describes the historical development of technologies that have influenced the application of alternatives in toxicology and safety testing. These range from single cell monocultures to sophisticated, miniaturised and microfluidic organism-on-a-chip devices, and also include molecular modelling, chemoinformatics and QSAR analysis, and the use of stem cells, tissue engineering and hollow fibre bioreactors. This has been facilitated by the wider availability of human tissues, advances in tissue culture, analytical and diagnostic methods, increases in computational processing, capabilities, and a greater understanding of cell biology and molecular mechanisms of toxicity. These technological developments have enhanced the range and information content of the toxicity endpoints detected, and therefore the relevance of test systems and data interpretation, while new techniques for non-invasive diagnostic imaging and high resolution detection methods have permitted an increased role for human studies. Several key examples of how these technologies are being harnessed to meet 21st century safety assessment challenges are provided, including their deployment in integrated testing schemes in conjunction with kinetic modelling, and in specialized areas, such as inhalation toxicity studies. The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology uses a chronological approach to demonstrate how the use of alternative methods has evolved from their conception as adjuncts to traditional animal toxicity tests to replacements for them. This volume in the History of Toxicology and Environmental Health series explores the history of alternative test development, validation, and use, with an emphasis on humanity and good science, in line with the Three Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) concept expounded by William Russell and Rex Burch in 1959 in their now-classic volume, The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. The book describes the historical development of technologies that have influenced the application of alternatives in toxicology and safety testing. These range from single cell monocultures to sophisticated miniaturised and microfluidic organism-on-a-chip devices, and also include molecular modelling, chemoinformatics and QSAR analysis, and the use of stem cells, tissue engineering and hollow fibre bioreactors. This has been facilitated by the wider availability of human tissues, advances in tissue culture, analytical and diagnostic methods, increases in computational processing capabilities, and a greater understanding of cell biology and molecular mechanisms of toxicity. These technological developments have enhanced the range and information content of the toxicity endpoints detected, and therefore the relevance of test systems and data interpretation, while new techniques for non-invasive diagnostic imaging and high resolution detection methods have permitted an increased role for human studies. Several key examples of how these technologies are being harnessed to meet 21st century safety assessment challenges are provided, including their deployment in integrated testing schemes in conjunction with kinetic modelling, and in specialised areas, such as inhalation toxicity studies.

Validation of Alternative Methods for Toxicity Testing

Validation of Alternative Methods for Toxicity Testing
Author: Chantra Eskes
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 418
Release: 2016-09-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3319338269

This book provides information on best practices and new thinking regarding the validation of alternative methods for toxicity testing. It covers the validation of experimental and computational methods and integrated approaches to testing and assessment. Validation strategies are discussed for methods employing the latest technologies such as tissue-on-a-chip systems, stem cells and transcriptomics, and for methods derived from pathway-based concepts in toxicology. Validation of Alternative Methods for Toxicity Testing is divided into two sections, in the first, practical insights are given on the state-of-the-art and on approaches that have resulted in successfully validated and accepted alternative methods. The second section focuses on the evolution of validation principles and practice that are necessary to ensure fit-for-purpose validation that has the greatest impact on international regulatory acceptance of alternative methods. In this context validation needs to keep pace with the considerable scientific advancements being made in toxicology, the availability of sophisticated tools and techniques that can be applied in a variety of ways, and the increasing societal and regulatory demands for better safety assessment. This book will be a useful resource for scientists in the field of toxicology, both from industry and academia, developing new test methods, strategies or techniques, as well as Governmental and regulatory authorities interested in understanding the principles and practicalities of validation of alternative methods for toxicity testing.

Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century

Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 217
Release: 2007-10-05
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0309109922

Advances in molecular biology and toxicology are paving the way for major improvements in the evaluation of the hazards posed by the large number of chemicals found at low levels in the environment. The National Research Council was asked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review the state of the science and create a far-reaching vision for the future of toxicity testing. The book finds that developing, improving, and validating new laboratory tools based on recent scientific advances could significantly improve our ability to understand the hazards and risks posed by chemicals. This new knowledge would lead to much more informed environmental regulations and dramatically reduce the need for animal testing because the new tests would be based on human cells and cell components. Substantial scientific efforts and resources will be required to leverage these new technologies to realize the vision, but the result will be a more efficient, informative and less costly system for assessing the hazards posed by industrial chemicals and pesticides.

Toxicogenomics in Predictive Carcinogenicity

Toxicogenomics in Predictive Carcinogenicity
Author: Michael D. Waters
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Total Pages: 524
Release: 2016
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1782621628

Describes toxicogenomics methods in predictive carcinogenicity testing and cancer risk assessment. Addresses the use of stem cells and bioinformatics in toxicogenomics. For postgraduates, academics and industrialists.

Green Chemistry and Engineering

Green Chemistry and Engineering
Author: Anne E. Marteel-Parrish
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2013-10-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1118720261

Promotes a green approach to chemistry and chemical engineering for a sustainable planet With this text as their guide, students will gain a new outlook on chemistry and engineering. The text fully covers introductory concepts in general, organic, inorganic, and analytical chemistry as well as biochemistry. At the same time, it integrates such concepts as greenhouse gas potential, alternative and renewable energy, solvent selection and recovery, and ecotoxicity. As a result, students learn how to design chemical products and processes that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Green Chemistry and Engineering presents the green approach as an essential tool for tackling problems in chemistry. A novel feature of the text is its integration of introductory engineering concepts, making it easier for students to move from fundamental science to applications. Throughout this text, the authors integrate several features to help students understand and apply basic concepts in general chemistry as well as green chemistry, including: Comparisons of the environmental impact of traditional chemistry approaches with green chemistry approaches Analyses of chemical processes in the context of life-cycle principles, demonstrating how chemistry fits within the complex supply chain Applications of green chemistry that are relevant to students' lives and professional aspirations Examples of successful green chemistry endeavors, including Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge winners Case studies that encourage students to use their critical thinking skills to devise green chemistry solutions Upon completing this text, students will come to understand that chemistry is not antithetical to sustainability, but rather, with the application of green principles, chemistry is the means to a sustainable planet.

Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment

Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2007-12-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309112982

The new field of toxicogenomics presents a potentially powerful set of tools to better understand the health effects of exposures to toxicants in the environment. At the request of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Research Council assembled a committee to identify the benefits of toxicogenomics, the challenges to achieving them, and potential approaches to overcoming such challenges. The report concludes that realizing the potential of toxicogenomics to improve public health decisions will require a concerted effort to generate data, make use of existing data, and study data in new waysâ€"an effort requiring funding, interagency coordination, and data management strategies.

A Systems Biology Approach to Advancing Adverse Outcome Pathways for Risk Assessment

A Systems Biology Approach to Advancing Adverse Outcome Pathways for Risk Assessment
Author: Natàlia Garcia-Reyero
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 429
Release: 2018-02-24
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319660845

Social pressure to minimize the use of animal testing, the ever-increasing concern on animal welfare, and the need for more human-relevant and more predictive toxicity tests are some of the drivers for new approaches to chemical screening. This book focuses on The Adverse Outcome Pathway, an analytical construct that describes a sequential chain of causally linked events at different levels of biological organization that lead to an adverse health or ecotoxicological effect. While past efforts have focused on toxicological pathway-based vision for human and ecological health assessment relying on in vitro systems and predictive models, The Adverse Outcome Pathway framework provides a simplified and structured way to organize toxicological information. Within the book, a systems biology approach supplies the tools to infer, link, and quantify the molecular initiating events and the key events and key event relationships leading to adverse outcomes. The advancement of these tools is crucial for the successful implementation of AOPs for regulatory purposes.