ALTERNATIVE TESTING METHODOLOGIES FOR ECOTOXICITY

There is growing public pressure to minimize the use of vertebrates in ecotoxicity testing; therefore, effective alternatives to toxicity te sts causing suffering are being sought. This report discusses alternat ives and differs in some respects from the reports of the other three groups because the primary concern is with harmful effects of chemical s at the level of population and above rather than with harmful effect s upon individuals. It is concluded that progress toward the objective of minimizing testing that causes suffering would be served by the fo llowing initiatives-a clearer definition of goals acid strategies when undertaking testing procedures; development of alternative assays, in cluding in vitro test systems, that are based on new technology; devel opment of nondestructive assays for vertebrates (e.g., biomarkers) tha t do not cause suffering, selection of most appropriate species, strai ns, and developmental stages for testing procedures (but no additional species for basic testing); better integrated and more flexible testi ng procedures incorporating biomarker responses, ecophysiological conc epts, and ecological end points (progress in this direction depends up on expert judgment). In general, testing procedures could be made more realistic, taking into account problems with mixtures, and with volat ile or insoluble chemicals.