Terrestrial Vertebrate Toxicity Tests

In parallel to the short-term toxicity tests with aquatic species are the standard mammal and bird toxicity tests. The methodologies are typically classed as to period and mode of exposure. Two examples of mammalian tests are 

Summary of Test Conditions for Conducting a Subchronic Inhalation Toxicity Study in Rats 

Organisms Variety of rodent species may be used rat is preferred 

Age and size of organisms Ideally before 6 weeks old, not more than 8 weeks old. Weight variation not to exceed 20% for each sex 

Exposure to test substance Ideally for 6 h/d on a 7-d/ week basis if necessary, exposure on a 5-d / week is considered acceptable test substance is introduced into the chamber air supply a suitable analytical control system should be used 

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How can terrestrial vertebrate toxicity tests be modified to better assess interspecific variability of a toxic response ... 

CNTs have been studied for cancer therapies despite the fact that these have been shown to accumulate to toxic levels within the organs of diverse animal models and different cell lines (Fiorito et al., 2006 Tong and Cheng, 2007). The molecular and cellular mechanisms for toxicity of carbon nanotubes have not been fully clarified. Furthermore, toxicity must be examined on the basis of multiple routes of administration (i.e., pulmonary, transdermal, ocular, oral, and intravenous) and on multiple species mammals, lower terrestrial animals, aquatic animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates), and plants (both terrestrial and aquatic). A basic set of tests for risk assessment of nanomaterials has been put forward (Nano risk framework). 

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