Non-animal approaches to assessing the skin sensitization endpoint under REACH

Abstract

The skin of consumers and workers is daily exposed to chemicals via use of household or cosmetic products, or in industrial settings. One of the adverse effects that can occur as a result of skin exposure to xenobiotics is skin sensitization, the clinical manifestation of which is termed allergic contact dermatitis. The evaluation of the skin sensitization potential of a substance is therefore of central importance for hazard and risk assessment of chemical exposures. Like most other toxicological endpoints, skin sensitization is in the regulatory context currently assessed by in vivo testing. Only animal tests like those described in OECD TG 406 (i.e., guinea pig maximization or Buehler test) or OECD TG 409/442 (i.e., murine local lymph node assays) are officially accepted by regulatory bodies for hazard classification purposes.