title: Advancing the 3Rs in regulatory ecotoxicology: A pragmatic cross-sector approach.
abstract: The ecotoxicity testing of chemicals for prospective environmental safety assessment is an area in which a high number of vertebrates are used across a variety of industry sectors. Refining, reducing, and replacing the use of animals such as fish, birds, and amphibians for this purpose addresses the ethical concerns and the increasing legislative requirements to consider alternative test methods. Members of the UK-based National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) Ecotoxicology Working Group, consisting of representatives from academia, government organizations, and industry, have worked together over the past 6 y to provide evidence bases to support and advance the application of the 3Rs in regulatory ecotoxicity testing. The group recently held a workshop to identify the areas of testing, demands, and drivers that will have an impact on the future of animal use in regulatory ecotoxicology. As a result of these discussions, we have developed a pragmatic approach to prioritize and realistically address key opportunity areas, to enable progress toward the vision of a reduced reliance on the use of animals in this area of testing. This paper summarizes the findings of this exercise and proposes a pragmatic strategy toward our key long-term goals-the incorporation of reliable alternatives to whole-organism testing into regulations and guidance, and a culture shift toward reduced reliance on vertebrate toxicity testing in routine environmental safety assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:417-421. © 2015 SETAC.
authors.affiliation: NC3Rs, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burden
authors.affiliation: Food and Environment Research Agency, Centre for Chemical Safety and Stewardship, Sand Hutton, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benstead
authors.affiliation: Chemicals Regulation Directorate, Health and Safety Executive, Mallard House, Kings Pool, York, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clook
authors.affiliation: Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Ltd, Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Syngenta Ltd, Product Safety, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Samuel K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Maynard
authors.affiliation: Home Office, Dundee, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ryder
authors.affiliation: Cefas Fisheries Laboratory, Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.affiliation: Shell, Brabazon House, Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whale
authors.affiliation: Unilever, Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre, Sharnbrook, Bedford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Egmond
authors.affiliation: Dow AgroSciences, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Plymouth University, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D058735:Environmental Policy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018675:Toxicity Tests
keywords: 3Rs; Chemicals; Ecotoxicology; Fish; Regulatory