Toxicology testing

<h2 id="history">History</h2>

<p>The study of poisons and toxic substances has a long history dating back to ancient times, when humans recognized the dangers posed by various natural compounds. However, the formalization and development of toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline can be attributed to notable figures like Paracelsus (1493–1541) and Orfila (1757–1853).
</p><p><a href="/facts/Paracelsus/U6H7KEUs">Paracelsus</a> (1493–1541): Often regarded as the "father of toxicology, Paracelsus, whose real name was Theophrastus von Hohenheim, challenged prevailing beliefs about poisons during the Renaissance era. He introduced the fundamental concept that "the dose makes the poison," emphasizing that the toxicity of a substance depends on its quantity. This principle remains a cornerstone of toxicology.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Mathieu_Orfila/Gct8MLmr">Mathieu Orfila</a> (1787–1853): A Spanish-born chemist and toxicologist, Orfila made significant contributions to the field in the 19th century. He is best known for his pioneering work in forensic toxicology, particularly in developing methods for detecting and analyzing poisons in biological samples. Orfila's work played a vital role in establishing toxicology as a recognized scientific discipline and laid the groundwork for modern forensic toxicology practices in criminal investigations and legal cases.
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<h2 id="prevalence">Prevalence</h2>
<p>Around one million animals, primate and non-primate, are used every year in Europe in toxicology tests.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> In the UK, one-fifth of animal experiments are toxicology tests.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
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<h2 id="methodology">Methodology</h2>
<p>Toxicity tests examine finished products such as <a href="/facts/Pesticide/Uhf4KnwJ">pesticides</a>, <a href="/facts/Medication/h9mhwWP2">medications</a>, <a href="/facts/Cosmetics/rb1x6P8c">cosmetics</a>, <a href="/facts/Food_additives/jGk8zjn8">food additives</a> such as <a href="/facts/Artificial_sweetener/jtA1DAjx">artificial sweeteners</a>, packing materials,  and <a href="/facts/Air_freshener/LAbXTreN">air freshener</a>, or their chemical ingredients.  The substances are tested using a variety of methods including dermal application, respiration, orally, injected or in water sources. They are applied to the skin or eyes; injected <a href="/facts/Intravenous/AwwuD3Nu">intravenously</a>, <a href="/facts/Intramuscular/PPNwW2wB">intramuscularly</a>, or <a href="/facts/Subcutaneous_injection/L4srK61u">subcutaneously</a>; inhaled either by placing a mask over the animals, or by placing them in an inhalation chamber; or administered orally, placing them in the animals' food or through a tube into the stomach. Doses may be given once, repeated regularly for many months, or for the lifespan of the animal.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>  Toxicity tests can also be conducted on materials need to be disposed such as sediment to be disposed in a marine environment.
</p><p>Initial toxicity tests often involve computer modelling (in silico) to predict toxicokinetic pathways or to predict potential exposure points by modelling weather and water currents to determine which animals or regions that will be most affected. 
Other less intensive and more common <a href="/facts/In_vitro_toxicology/ESVwHbdc">in vitro toxicology</a> tests involve, amongst others, microtox assays to observe bacteria growth and productivity. This can be adapted to plant life measure photosynthesis levels and growth of exposed plants.
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<h2 id="contract-research-organizations">Contract research organizations</h2>
<p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/Contract_research_organization/KfvfpH3h">Contract research organization</a></p>
<p>A contract research organization (CRO) is an organization that provides support to the  <a href="/facts/Pharmaceutical_industry/5mCITYys">pharmaceutical</a>, <a href="/facts/Biotechnology/8eFnI6FB">biotechnology</a>, chemical, and medical device industries in the form of research services <a href="/facts/Outsourcing/qa3WgJ7u">outsourced</a> on a contract basis.  A CRO may provide toxicity testing services, along with others such as assay development, <a href="/facts/Pre-clinical_development/WSI14rnq">preclinical research</a>, <a href="/facts/Clinical_research/oYdnAryH">clinical research</a>, clinical trials management, and <a href="/facts/Pharmacovigilance/4v2PDxCM">pharmacovigilance</a>. CROs also support foundations, research institutions, and universities, in addition to governmental organizations (such as the <a href="/facts/NIH/G3Eytfcc">NIH</a>, <a href="/facts/European_Medicines_Agency/h9FTtCYc">EMEA</a>, etc.).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
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<h2 id="regulation">Regulation</h2>
<h3>United States</h3>
<p>In the United States, toxicology tests are subject to <a href="/facts/Good_Laboratory_Practice/DXV9HLej">Good Laboratory Practice</a> guidelines and other <a href="/facts/Food_and_Drug_Administration/rCEnh9WB">Food and Drug Administration</a> laws.
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<h3>Europe</h3>
<p>Animal testing for cosmetic purposes is currently banned all across the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a>
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<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Animal_testing/mHMf98y8">Animal testing</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Children%27s_Environmental_Exposure_Research_Study/4Db9ed3W">Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="further-reading">Further reading</h2>
<ul><li>Langman, Loralie J.; Kapur, Bhushan M. (May 2006). "Toxicology: Then and now". <i>Clinical Biochemistry</i>. 39 (5): 498–510. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.clinbiochem.2006.03.004">10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2006.03.004</a>. <a href="/facts/PMID_(identifier)/JlHAvMHt">PMID</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16730254">16730254</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://toxedfoundation.org/history-of-toxicology/">"History of Toxicology"</a>. Toxicology Education Foundation. 3 August 2016.</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://toxicitylab.com/content/toxicity_testing/toxicity_testing_faq.php#WET_Testing">What is aquatic toxicity testing?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.creative-animodel.com/Toxicology/Genetic-and-Molecular-Toxicology-Assays.html">Genetic and Molecular Toxicology Assays</a>, Safety Assessment, Animal Research Laboratories Agency.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.emkatech.com/">emka TECHNOLOGIES</a> Physiological data acquisition & analysis for preclinical research</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Gavanji S, Bakhtari A, Famurewa AC, Othman EM (January 2023). "Cytotoxic Activity of Herbal Medicines as Assessed in Vitro: A Review". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 20 (2): 3–27. doi:10.1002/cbdv.202201098. PMID 36595710. S2CID 255473013. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fcbdv.202201098" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fcbdv.202201098</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Abbott, A (November 10, 2005). "Animal testing: More than a cosmetic change" (PDF). Nature. 438 (7065): 144–146. Bibcode:2005Natur.438..144A. doi:10.1038/438144a. PMID 16281001. S2CID 4422086. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 27, 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080227041442/http://ethics.ucsd.edu/journal/2006/readings/Animal_Testing_More_than_a_cosmetic_change.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080227041442/http://ethics.ucsd.edu/journal/2006/readings/Animal_Testing_More_than_a_cosmetic_change.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures Report, House of Lords, Chapter 3: The purpose and nature of animal experiments. <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldanimal/150/15006.htm" target="_blank">https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldanimal/150/15006.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Parasuraman S (2011). "Toxicological screening". J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2 (2): 74–9. doi:10.4103/0976-500X.81895. PMC 3127354. PMID 21772764. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127354" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127354</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"The CRO Market", Association of Clinical Research Organizations. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100311082536/http://www.acrohealth.org/cro-market.php" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100311082536/http://www.acrohealth.org/cro-market.php</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>"Ban on Animal Testing - Growth - European Commission". Growth. 2016-07-05. Retrieved 9 April 2018. <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/animal-testing_en" target="_blank">https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/cosmetics/animal-testing_en</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
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Toxicology testing open-in-new

Toxicology testing