Animal testing dosing assessments

In the case of noncarcinogenic substances, there exists a threshold this is an exposure with a dose below which there would not be adverse effect on the population that is exposed. This is the reference dose (RfD), and it is defined as the daily exposure of a human population without appreciable effects during a lifetime. The RfD value is calculated by dividing the no observed effect level (NOEL) by uncertainty factors. When NOEL is unknown, the lowest observed effect level (LOEL) is used. NOEL and LOEL are usually obtained in animal studies. The main uncertainty factor, usually tenfold, used to calculate the RfD are the following the variations in interspecies (from animal test to human), presence of sensitive individuals (child and old people), extrapolation from subchronic to chronic, and the use of LOEL instead of NOEL. Noncancer risk is assessed through the comparison of the dose exposed calculated in the exposure assessment and the RfD. The quotient between both, called in some studies as hazard quotient, is commonly calculated (Eq. 2). According to this equation, population with quotient >1 will be at risk to develop some specific effect related to the contaminant of concern. 

Route (how an agent is administered to a test animal) and dose (how much of and how frequently an agent is administered) are inseparable in safety assessment... 

Comprehensive toxicity studies are carried out by animal testing in order to ascertain whether the product exhibits any short-term or long-term toxicity. Acute toxicity is usually assessed by administration of a single high dose of the test drug to rodents. Both rats and mice (male and female) are usually employed. The test material is administered by two means, one of which should represent the proposed therapeutic method of administration. The animals are then monitored for 7-14 days, with all fatalities undergoing extensive post-mortem analysis. 

Low-dose extrapolation models are the backbone of dose-response assessments. Because they can play such a dominant role in the regulatory process, it is important to understand some of their characteristics. As shown in Figure 3.10, different extrapolation models usually fit the data in the observable dose region in animal tests about equally well (Krewski et al., 1989), but they often give quite different results in the unobserved low-dose region of interest in assessments of risk to human health. The results obtained by extrapolation of the most commonly used low-dose models usually vary in a predictable manner, because the models use different mathematical equations to describe the chemical s likely behavior in the low-dose region. 

Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) A process that relies on mathematical modeling and estimations usually derived from animal test results and the probability of risk for a substance or chemical at low doses to which human population is normally exposed to. 

In the effects assessment step the relationship between the level of exposure and the incidence, nature, and severity of an (adverse) effect following the exposure is determined. For most types of effects, it is assumed that there is a minimum dose or concentration below which adverse effects will not occur the no effect level or threshold. To determine the threshold, different doses are tested, for most chemical hazards usually in laboratory animals. In toxicology, the highest tested dose without adverse effects is called the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). Based on the NOAEL established in an experimental study, a human limit value can be calculated, taking into account uncertainties and differences in experimental design and circumstances. Uncertainties and differences are accounted for by uncertainty factors (e.g., for interspecies differences, intraspecies variability, and exposure duration). For some types of substances, it is assumed that every level of exposure can result in adverse effects, in which case no threshold would exist. This, for instance, is assumed to apply for genotoxic carcinogens. 

Other tests can reveal effects indicative of potential reproductive toxicity. Examples include the dominant lethal test, fertility assessment by continuous breeding, repeated-dose toxicity testing, and cancer studies where the gonads are subjected to pathological examination. These tests, however, provide information only on effects after dosing adult animals and are therefore not addressed below. 

Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) A system of procedures, checks, and audits to judge and control the quality of measurements and reduce the uncertainty of data. Some quality control procedures include having more than one person review the findings and analyzing a sample at different times or using different laboratories to see if the findings are similar Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) A process that relies on mathematical modeling and estimations usually derived from animal test results and the probability of risk for a chemical substance at the low dose to which the human population is normally exposed Radionuclide A nuclide with radioactive properties... 

The EPA uses the linearized multistage model (LMS)—illustrated in Figure 9.34—to conduct its cancer risk assessments. It yields a cancer slope factor, known as the ql (pronounced Ql-star), which can be used to predict cancer risk at a specific dose. The LMS assumes a linear extrapolation with a zero dose threshold from the upper confidence level of the lowest dose that produced cancer in an animal test or in a human epidemiology study. 

See also Animal Models Dose-Response Relationship Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Levels of Effect in Toxicological Assessment Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) Toxicity Testing, Alternatives Toxicity Testing, Modeling. 

The basic ocular irritation test in the rabbit will be described in detail in another section, but it is important to point out that the number of test animals can be reduced from the usual six at each exposure level to two or, at most, three animals per dose without sacrificing much accuracy. Many test series have shown 88-91% accuracy with two animals per treatment group. The agent, instilled in the pouch formed by the lower eyelid, is held in place for 1 s and then released. The treated eye is not washed, allowing the animal s own tear secretions to flush out the material. The untreated eye serves as a control. Both eyes are examined at 1, 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment, the irritation (or damage) to the cornea, the conjunctiva, and the iris being scored numerically in a subjective manner. The test is open in that the experiment can be terminated at 72 h if there is no evidence of irritation, but observed effects can be assessed for a longer time period. 

V. Because pharmaceuticals are normally tested for toxicity in rodent repeated dose toxicity tests and because there is no longer a requirement for an acute high dose rodent toxicity test, the assessment of genotoxicity (e.g., bone marrow micronucleus test or other tissue/endpoint) should be integrated, if feasible, into the rodent repeated dose toxicity study to optimize animal usage. 

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