The Fish Embryo Toxicity Test as an Animal Alternative Method in Hazard and Risk Assessment and Scientific Research

Animal alternatives research has historically focused on human safety assessments and has only recently been extended to environmental testing, particularly for those assays that involve the use of fish. Several alternatives are being pursued including the fish embryo toxicity (FET) test, a proposed replacement alternative to the acute fish test. Discussion of FET methodology and application in environmental assessments on a global level is needed. With this issue in mind, the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) and the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) held a workshop on the ¿Application of the FET as an Animal Alternative Method in Hazard and Risk Assessment and Scientific Research¿ in March, 2008. The workshop included ~40 scientists and regulators representing government, industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations from North America, Europe, and Asia. The goal was to review the state of the science regarding fish embryonic tests, pain and distress in fish, emerging approaches utilizing fish embryos, and use of fish embryo test data in various environmental assessments. Outcomes included agreement that fish data is needed for decision-making, extending the FET to include eluethereombryos is desirable, relevant endpoints are being used, and additional endpoints could facilitate uses beyond acute testing. The FET was not yet considered validated sensu OECD. An important action step is to provide guidance on how fish tests can be used to assess chemical hazard and to harmonize terminology used in test guidelines. Addressing these needs via workshops, research, and data reviews were identified for future action.

EMBRY Michelle;  BELANGER Scott;  BRAUNBECK Thomas;  GALAY-BURGOS Malyka;  HALDER Maria;  HINTON David;  LÉONARD Marc;  LILLICRAP Adam;  NORBERG-KING Teresa;  WHALE Graham; 

2010-03-12

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

JRC50571

0166-445X,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC50571,   

10.1016/j.aquatox.2009.12.008,