New approach methodologies in toxicology

Chemicals are present everywhere in our day-to-day products and in our environment, such as cosmetics, food, water, soil and much more. To protect both human and environmental health, traditional animal toxicity tests are often relied upon to inform chemical safety assessment.

A new pragmatic framework for applying New Approach Methodologies (NAM) is being used for health toxicological risk assessment, aiming to revolutionise the field by integrating emerging methods and data streams. It emphasizes the use of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) and incorporates in vitro and in-silico approaches. The framework also highlights the importance of considering multiple species and ecosystems in risk assessment, effective risk communication, and policy relevance. Additionally, the framework includes strategies such as read-across and Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC), contributing to a comprehensive evaluation of potential risks.

Our toxicology services (National Centre for Environmental Toxicology, NCET) provide specialised risk assessment services that align with this framework, bringing over 30 years’ experience of chemical risk assessment in the water and environment sectors. By partnering with toxicology services at WRc, stakeholders can make informed decisions that protect human health and ecosystems from environmental contaminants.