USEPA Efforts in Harmonization of Acute Toxicity Test Guidelines with OECD

Abstract

The USEPA, as a member of the OECD, is involved in the review of OECD guidelines and OECD's plans for revisions. The guidelines reviewed to date include: acute oral toxicity, eye and dermal irritation/corrosion, and skin sensitization. The revisions to the guidelines have emphasized reductions in animal usage in lab testing, and refinements which reduce/eliminate pain and suffering of animals. Screening methods, such as use of structure-activity relationships and physicochemical properties of test substances, which would eliminate chemicals that did not require animal testing, or sharply reduce the number of animals required for testing, were also recommended for some guidelines. In vitro methods were also examined as screens to eliminate severely toxic chemicals, but most of these methods still require further development and validation. The proposed revisions are discussed in detail in this report. This report has been reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Agency.