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Development of methods to detect occurrence and effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals: A fundamental shift in regulatory ecotoxicology
Citation:
Ankley, G. AND C. Tyler. Development of methods to detect occurrence and effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals: A fundamental shift in regulatory ecotoxicology. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, 32(12):2661-2662, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
This is an editorial in ET&C describing the newer pathway-specific test methods for EDCs and their effect on ecotoxicology. Work conducted to support the development and application of these types of assays promises to be an important catalyst to advance the field of ecotoxicology. Specifically, this research has focused on the collection and understanding of responses across biological levels of organization, enabling development of links between mechanistic endpoints at molecular and biochemical levels to adverse effects in individuals and even, potentially, populations. This, in turn, has demonstrated the practical utility of mechanistic toxicity data for risk assessment, a challenge since the very early days of biomarker research. The pathway-specific approaches that have been developed to address EDCs provide a conceptual road map for systems-based approaches to assess chemical risks that should enable the application and interpretation of tools and approaches which ultimately should result in more effective risk assessments. This will enable, for example, the development of predictive models for adverse outcome pathways, some of which could potentially be applied to relatively simple screening tools (e.g., in vitro systems) to identify potential (likely) adverse effects and thus reduce the use of intact animals in chemical testing. Notably, this type of emphasis is entirely consistent with recent high-profile recommendations in the field of human health toxicology.
Description:
This is an editorial in ET&C describing the newer pathway-specific test methods for EDCs and their effect on ecotoxicology. Work conducted to support the development and application of these types of assays promises to be an important catalyst to advance the field of ecotoxicology. Specifically, this research has focused on the collection and understanding of responses across biological levels of organization, enabling development of links between mechanistic endpoints at molecular and biochemical levels to adverse effects in individuals and even, potentially, populations. This, in turn, has demonstrated the practical utility of mechanistic toxicity data for risk assessment, a challenge since the very early days of biomarker research. The pathway-specific approaches that have been developed to address EDCs provide a conceptual road map for systems-based approaches to assess chemical risks that should enable the application and interpretation of tools and approaches which ultimately should result in more effective risk assessments. This will enable, for example, the development of predictive models for adverse outcome pathways, some of which could potentially be applied to relatively simple screening tools (e.g., in vitro systems) to identify potential (likely) adverse effects and thus reduce the use of intact animals in chemical testing. Notably, this type of emphasis is entirely consistent with recent high-profile recommendations in the field of human health toxicology.
