(History of Toxicology and Environmental Health) 1st Edition
by Michael Balls (Editor), Robert Combes (Editor), Andrew Worth (Editor)
The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology
uses a chronological approach to demonstrate how the use of alternative
methods has evolved from their conception as adjuncts to traditional
animal toxicity tests to replacements for them. This volume in the
History of Toxicology and Environmental Health series explores the
history of alternative test development, validation, and use, with an
emphasis on humanity and good science, in line with the Three Rs
(Replacement,Reduction, Refinement) concept expounded by William Russell
and Rex Burch in 1959 in their now classic volume, The Principles of
Humane Experimental Technique.
The book describes the historical
development of technologies that have influenced the application of
alternatives in toxicology and safety testing. These range from single
cell monocultures to sophisticated, miniaturised and microfluidic
organism-on-a-chip devices, and also include molecular modelling,
chemoinformatics and QSAR analysis, and the use of stem cells, tissue
engineering and hollow fibre bioreactors. This has been facilitated by
the wider availability of human tissues, advances in tissue culture,
analytical and diagnostic methods, increases in computational
processing, capabilities, and a greater understanding of cell biology
and molecular mechanisms of toxicity.
These technological
developments have enhanced the range and information content of the
toxicity endpoints detected, and therefore the relevance of test systems
and data interpretation, while new techniques for non-invasive
diagnostic imaging and high resolution detection methods have permitted
an increased role for human studies. Several key examples of how these
technologies are being harnessed to meet 21st century safety assessment
challenges are provided, including their deployment in integrated
testing schemes in conjunction with kinetic modelling, and in
specialized areas, such as inhalation toxicity studies.
The History of Alternative Test Methods in Toxicology uses
a chronological approach to demonstrate how the use of alternative
methods has evolved from their conception as adjuncts to traditional
animal toxicity tests to replacements for them. This volume in the
History of Toxicology and Environmental Health series explores the
history of alternative test development, validation, and use, with an
emphasis on humanity and good science, in line with the Three Rs
(Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) concept expounded by William
Russell and Rex Burch in 1959 in their now-classic volume, The
Principles of Humane Experimental Technique.
The book describes
the historical development of technologies that have influenced the
application of alternatives in toxicology and safety testing. These
range from single cell monocultures to sophisticated miniaturised and
microfluidic organism-on-a-chip devices, and also include molecular
modelling, chemoinformatics and QSAR analysis, and the use of stem
cells, tissue engineering and hollow fibre bioreactors. This has been
facilitated by the wider availability of human tissues, advances in
tissue culture, analytical and diagnostic methods, increases in
computational processing capabilities, and a greater understanding of
cell biology and molecular mechanisms of toxicity.
These
technological developments have enhanced the range and information
content of the toxicity endpoints detected, and therefore the relevance
of test systems and data interpretation, while new techniques for
non-invasive diagnostic imaging and high resolution detection methods
have permitted an increased role for human studies. Several key examples
of how these technologies are being harnessed to meet 21st century
safety assessment challenges are provided, including their deployment in
integrated testing schemes in conjunction with kinetic modelling, and
in specialised areas, such as inhalation toxicity studies.
- Covers
each global region in a systematic fashion, showing how regions compare
in terms of problems faced and resolution approaches
- Includes a thorough chronology of alternatives research, thus providing a complete overview
- Focuses on methods of direct relevance to humans to address issues of efficacy and waste