Use of adverse outcome pathways in chemical toxicity testing: potential advantages and limitations

Amid revolutionary changes in toxicity assessment brought about by increasing regulation of chemicals, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) have emerged as a useful framework to assess adverse effect of chemicals using molecular level effect, which aid in setting environmental regulation policies. AOPs are biological maps that describe mechanisms linking molecular initiating event to adverse outcomes (AOs) at an individual level. Each AOP consists of a molecular initiating event, key events, and an AO. AOPs use molecular markers to predict endpoints currently used in risk assessment, promote alternatives to animal model-based test methods, and provide scientific explanations for the effects of chemical exposures. Moreover, AOPs enhance certainty in interpreting existing and new information. The application of AOPs in chemical toxicity testing will help shift the existing paradigm of chemical management based on apical endpoints toward active application of in silico and in vitro data.

Use of adverse outcome pathways in chemical toxicity testing: potential advantages and limitations

Amid revolutionary changes in toxicity assessment brought about by increasing regulation of chemicals, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) have emerged as a useful framework to assess adverse effect of chemicals using molecular level effect, which aid in setting environmental regulation policies. AOPs are biological maps that describe mechanisms linking molecular initiating event to adverse outcomes (AOs) at an individual level. Each AOP consists of a molecular initiating event, key events, and an AO. AOPs use molecular markers to predict endpoints currently used in risk assessment, promote alternatives to animal model-based test methods, and provide scientific explanations for the effects of chemical exposures. Moreover, AOPs enhance certainty in interpreting existing and new information. The application of AOPs in chemical toxicity testing will help shift the existing paradigm of chemical management based on apical endpoints toward active application of in silico and in vitro data.

Using a risk-based approach in national chemical management programs:challenges and opportunities / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

Although che mical manage ment progra ms have been in place in several countries for more than 30 years they continue to be chal enged by factors such as data quality and quantity,greater de mand on regulatory staff and re-sources,an evolution in hazard and exposure assess ment methods,and continued debate about manage ment progra ms that are risk-based (hazard and exposure)or hazard-based.Countries developing their own che mical manage ment pro-gra ms often wish to learn fro m the experience of others,and thereby have progra ms that either reduce or eli minate so me of the proble ms associated with existing progra ms.However,often even new progra ms face the sa me or new proble ms that have been associated with managing che micals.In this paper we su mmarize so me of the ele ments of existing pro-gra ms in the United States and Europe,the developing progra m in China,and the chal enges associated with the evolution of hazard,exposure and risk assess ment methods.We conclude by suggesting areas where further research may be use-ful for i mproving che mical manage ment progra ms.