engleski

Endocrine disruptors and animal-free toxicology

Endocrine disruptors, hormonally active compounds which can modulate the endocrine and immune systems, have captured public's attention like no other toxicity concern since the publication of Rachel Carlson's Silent Spring in 1962. Because the endocrine system is vital to reproductive health and the maintenance of species, the research of thousands of chemicals produced and used in commerce that may damage this system, remains very high on the scientific agenda. For decades, toxicological risk assessment has used animal experiments as the main approach to ensure human health and safety of the environment, respecting the so-called 3Rs (Reduce, Replace, Refine) principle. Beside ethical and economical considerations, there are also scientific reasons why the future studies are seen in the strength of development and incorporation of stepwise testing strategies, combining experimental data from a range of alternative methods (physicochemical techniques, computerized modeling based on quantitative structure-activity relationships - QSAR, the -omics technologies, metabolic and kinetic modelling and in vitro approach). The use of in vitro systems (subcellular systems, primary cell cultures, cell lines, stem cells, whole tissues and perfused organs) provide a detailed insight into the mechanisms of toxicity. At the same time, high-throughput and high-content measurements on various cell models provide a sensitive and robust approach for screening new chemical entities. To fill remaining gaps of knowledge, targeted testing in animals would then be performed as an aditional step. This would change toxicology from being a predominantly observational craft and regulatory support discipline back to a natural science with all its dimensions. According to the fact that Croatia is from July 1 a member of EU, all appropriate testing regulations must be now harmonized. Concerning the toxicity validation it means that animal-free testing methods will be obligated and applied in Croatia without any further delay as much as it is possible.

endocrine disrupting chemicals; the 3Rs; animal-free toxicology

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