Animal Alternatives in Toxicology

Methods using animals have been accepted by toxicologists and other investigators as necessary to provide assurance of safety for environmental agents. The development of alternative approaches to the use of animals focuses on reducing and, in some instances, eliminating the use of animals. It will be easier to develop alternative tests for certain methods in toxicology than for others. The most difficult areas will be those of systemic toxicology, i.e., subchronic and chronic toxicity. There are a number of points that should be considered in the development of alternative tests. Among these are the biological or physiological relevance of the end-point used in the alternative test, where the test fits into a testing scheme, i.e., replacement or as a complement to the animal test, and the necessary quantitative and qualitative validational steps.