MP9 Developing Reliable Endpoints in Avian Endocrine Testing at the Population Level
Room 12A/B, Level 4
2:10 PM - 5:30 PM, Monday, 10 November 2003
Chair: Brugger, Kristin ,
(155) Current status in the development and validation of an avian two-generation reproduction test.
Touart, L1, 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, DC
ABSTRACT- Documented effects to fish and wildlife populations, coupled with evidence from human poisonings, epidemiology, and experimental toxicology led to the formation of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EDSP main objectives are to validate and implement the screens and tests which have been proposed for evaluating possible endocrine disruption activity of chemicals. An avian two-generation test is one of the recommended higher tier tests currently undergoing pre-validation. Pre-validation includes method development, performance demonstration, and protocol optimization. Pre-validation issues identified by an OECD avian reproduction expert group are being addressed in EDSP directed work tasks. Key tasks include drafting a detailed review paper for the test method and completing a study to determine the optimum dosing regime for the test. The status of EDSP activities in the pre-validation tasks to date and workplan for validation will be presented. Additionally, important endpoints for interpreting avian population impacts will be discussed.
Key words: avian, endocrine disruption, reproduction, validation