The role of developmental neurotoxicology studies in risk assessment

A number of questions have been raised about the use of the US Environmenta l Protection Agency's Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing Guideline (DNTG) in the hazard identification of chemicals. The applicability and sensitivit y of animal tests in the DNTG relative to human developmental neurotoxicity have recently been questioned. In a workshop held in 1989, participants co mpared this effects of several known developmental neurotoxicants in humans and animal models and concluded that the DNTG would have detected known hu man developmental neurotoxicants. They also concluded that although procedu ral differences may differ in the testing of humans and animals, the neurob iologic functions tie, autonomic, sensory, motor, and cognitive) affected b y chemical exposure were similar. In cases where the DNTG has barn compared with other measures of reproductive and developmental toxicity, the DNTG h as been relatively sensitive and specific. To date, DNTGs have been require d 12 times, for 9 pesticides and 3 solvents. The sensitivity of the measure s in the DNTG relative to other measures of developmental and adult toxicit y supports the continued use of the DNTG in risk assessment.