IS THE INDUSTRY DOING ENOUGH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROTOXICITY (DNT) TESTING?
According to the European Joint Research Centre, neurodevelopmental disorders in children have increased dramatically in recent years, highlighting the importance of evaluating new and existing chemicals for their potential operation in this field. This is difficult because the existing OECD Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) study, TG 426, is entirely based on in vivo studies (which are very resource-intensive in terms of animals and time) and is not a standard test requirement at a regulatory level in the EU; The research is seldom used because it is only performed when structure-activity relationships or signs of neurotoxicity in systemic adult studies pose concerns. What’s the end result? The percentage of chemicals being/having been tested for their Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) potential is alarmingly low, causing uncertainty in determining acceptable levels of exposure for pregnant women and young children in particular. According to a recent JRC paper, alternative Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) methodologies should be developed to rapidly and cost-effectively screen large numbers of chemicals. It looks at how well existing in vitro cellular models address crucial human neurodevelopmental processes and key events found in Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), as well as how they can be used to improve Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) -specific integrated testing and evaluation approaches (IATA). The data and information gained from such research should aid in the creation of an OECD guidance document on the subject, as well as a systematic testing plan that will give pregnant women, babies, and children some faith in the safety of the thousands of untested (in Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT) terms) chemicals to which they could be exposed.
- Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs)
- Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing (DNT)
- European Union
- Neurotoxicity
- Toxicology
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