Toxicity Assessment Alternatives: Methods, Issues, Opportunities

Product description Review "The value of these methods is that they can provide alternatives to more expensive and politically sensitive animal testing methods. . .By focusing on the human keratinocyte cell system, the complex response to sulfur mustard provides an excellent case example of the value of these alternative methods, and in this, this book is unique in the field. "-Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal "This book is an up-to-date description of what has been accomplished thus far in developing acceptable alternatives to classical animal toxicity assessment methods. It includes not only reviews about alternatives for animal testing as such (e.g., tissue cultures for dermal toxicity and endocrine disruptor assessment, in vitro protein denaturation to assess ocular and dermal irritation potential of chemicals, and validation of alternative tests), it also reports on increasing testing efficiency (e.g., trans-genic models that reduce time and cost of carcinogenicity testing), and it presents tools for a better understanding of the toxic process (e.g., molecular modeling to explain chemical toxicity)....it presents a handsome and conveniently arranged overview of the topics and perspectives regarding the state-of-the-art of alternative toxicity testing."-EUROTOX European Societies of Toxicology From the Back Cover In Toxicity Assessment Alternatives, internationally known scientists review what has been accomplished thus far in developing acceptable alternatives to classical animal toxicity assessment methods. Authoritative chapters describe not only the many practical alternative approaches that have recently emerged, but also consider current trends and likely future approaches, as well as emerging automated assessment techniques. Hazard assessment applications and the validation of new alternative methods are also discussed. The methods described here will help toxicologists, cosmetic chemists, and pharmacologists greatly reduce, refine, or even possibly replace, the use of laboratory animals in their work. Life science researchers will also find many new opportunities for detecting endocrine disruptions. Regulatory officers will gain a new perspective on alternative assessment, environmental assessment, and risk assessment. Significantly extending the efforts the National Institutes of Health, the European Union, and the ICCVAM, Toxicity Assessment Alternatives offers all those evaluating toxicity today a cutting-edge collection of practical and highly effective alternative methods.