Nanotechnology expert from PETA Science Consortium to outline hazard testing strategy at ECHA workshop

The PETA International Science Consortium's nanotechnology expert will present a poster titled "A Tiered-Testing Strategy for Nanomaterial Hazard Assessment" at the Topical Scientific Workshop – Regulatory Challenges in Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials being organized by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on October 23 and 24 in Helsinki.

Dr. Monita Sharma will outline a strategy consistent with the 2007 report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy," which recommends the use of non-animal testing methods involving human cells for mechanistic pathway-based toxicity studies.

Based on the current literature, the proposed strategy includes the following steps:

• A thorough characterization of nanomaterials as manufactured, as intended for use, and as present in the final biological system
• An assessment using multiple exposure-route specific in silico and in vitro model systems, including high-throughput screening (HTS) assays and 3-D systems
• Data sharing among researchers from government, academia, and industry through Web-based tools, such as the Nanomaterial Registry and nanoHUB

"Implementation of the proposed strategy will generate meaningful information on nanomaterial properties and their interaction with biological systems," Dr. Sharma says. "It is cost-effective, reduces animal use, and can be applied for assessing risk and making intelligent regulatory decisions regarding the use and disposal of nanomaterials."

Scientists from member organizations of the Science Consortium take part in international standards-setting organizations and bring their scientific expertise and extensive knowledge of international testing protocols to bear on developing, standardizing, and implementing non-animal testing strategies.