title: Promoting the 3Rs to enhance the OECD fish toxicity testing framework.
abstract: Fish toxicity testing has been conducted since the 1860's in order to help define safe levels of chemical contaminants in lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The historical emphasis on acute lethality testing of chemicals has more recently focussed on long term sublethal effects of chemicals on fish and their prey species. Fish toxicity testing is now embedded in much environment legislation on chemical safety while it is recognized that animal use should be Replaced, Reduced and Refined (the 3Rs) where possible. The OECD Fish Toxicity Testing Framework provides a useful structure with which to address the needs of environmental safety assessment whilst implementing the 3Rs. This commentary aims to promote the implementation of the recommendations of the OECD Fish Toxicity Testing Framework.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: tom.hutchinson@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: Dow AgroSciences, 3B Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: jrwheeler@dow.com.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 2 rue André-Pascal, F-75775, Paris Cedex 16, France. Electronic address: anne.gourmelon@oecd.org.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gourmelon
authors.affiliation: NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, United Kingdom. Electronic address: natalie.burden@nc3rs.org.uk.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burden
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D066150:Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development / Q000592:standards; D011050:Policy Making; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000592:standards; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Aquatic; Chemicals; Effluent; Hazard; Risk; Safety