title: Advancing Risk Analysis for Nanoscale Materials: Report from an International Workshop on the Role of Alternative Testing Strategies for Advancement.
abstract: The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) has a history of bringing thought leadership to topics of emerging risk. In September 2014, the SRA Emerging Nanoscale Materials Specialty Group convened an international workshop to examine the use of alternative testing strategies (ATS) for manufactured nanomaterials (NM) from a risk analysis perspective. Experts in NM environmental health and safety, human health, ecotoxicology, regulatory compliance, risk analysis, and ATS evaluated and discussed the state of the science for in vitro and other alternatives to traditional toxicology testing for NM. Based on this review, experts recommended immediate and near-term actions that would advance ATS use in NM risk assessment. Three focal areas-human health, ecological health, and exposure considerations-shaped deliberations about information needs, priorities, and the next steps required to increase confidence in and use of ATS in NM risk assessment. The deliberations revealed that ATS are now being used for screening, and that, in the near term, ATS could be developed for use in read-across or categorization decision making within certain regulatory frameworks. Participants recognized that leadership is required from within the scientific community to address basic challenges, including standardizing materials, protocols, techniques and reporting, and designing experiments relevant to real-world conditions, as well as coordination and sharing of large-scale collaborations and data. Experts agreed that it will be critical to include experimental parameters that can support the development of adverse outcome pathways. Numerous other insightful ideas for investment in ATS emerged throughout the discussions and are further highlighted in this article.
authors: Vireo Advisors, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Shatkin
authors: Vireo Advisors, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Kimberly J
authors: KJ
authors: Ong
authors: Compass RM, Vancouver, CA, USA.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Beaudrie
authors: PETA International Science Consortium Ltd, London, UK.
authors: Amy J
authors: AJ
authors: Clippinger
authors: Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors: Christine Ogilvie
authors: CO
authors: Hendren
authors: TERA, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors: Lynne T
authors: LT
authors: Haber
authors: Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
authors: Myriam
authors: M
authors: Hill
authors: UC Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, ERI, and UC CEIN, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Holden
authors: U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS, USA.
authors: Alan J
authors: AJ
authors: Kennedy
authors: Independent, Somerville, MA, USA.
authors: Baram
authors: B
authors: Kim
authors: Argonne National Laboratory, Environmental Science Division, Argonne, IL, USA.
authors: Margaret
authors: M
authors: MacDonell
authors: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: Powers
authors: PETA International Science Consortium Ltd, London, UK.
authors: Monita
authors: M
authors: Sharma
authors: Alberta Ingenuity Labs, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Lorraine
authors: L
authors: Sheremeta
authors: John Muir Building Gait 1 Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Stone
authors: Environment Canada, Gatineau, QC, Canada.
authors: Yasir
authors: Y
authors: Sultan
authors: ICF International, Durham, NC, USA.
authors: Audrey
authors: A
authors: Turley
authors: RH White Consultants, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
authors: Ronald H
authors: RH
authors: White
mesh_terms: D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety
keywords: Alternative testing strategies; expert workshop; nanomaterials; nanotoxicology; risk analysis