Animal studies data analysis problems

Deficiencies in many of the studies make it difficult to fully evaluate the quality of the data reported. General problems include the following (1) many details of experimental protocols were omitted, thereby prohibiting an evaluation of the study s adequacy (2) very often, only one dose was used, so an analysis of any possible dose-response relationships was not possible, and the possibility that certain observed effects were not compound-related cannot be excluded (3) control data often were not presented and (4) the results were frequently described in subjective terms, and no attempt was made to quantitate the data. Despite these limitations, animal studies do provide irrefutable evidence that the central and peripheral nervous systems are target organs for organic mercury-induced toxicity. 

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