In collaboration with international organisations, a JRC scientist defined criteria for the selection of positive/negative control samples to assess developmental neurotoxicity hazard posed by environmental and industrial chemicals.
The assessment of chemicals for potential developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) effects is almost entirely based on animal tests. However, the standard tests (e.g. OECD Test Guideline 426) are rarely performed since they are seldom requested by regulators and are very time-consuming and costly to conduct. As a result, there is a lack of information concerning the potential DNT hazard posed by chemicals to which workers and consumers may be exposed.
This lack of effective and efficient testing approaches and DNT information is of concern since there is growing evidence of possible links between the exposure of children to chemicals and developmental learning disabilities. Moreover, it is well known that the developing nervous system in children is more sensitive than the adult nervous system for some classes of hazardous substances.
Further information: Criteria for selection of reference chemicals for the evaluation of alternative methods to assess developmental neurotoxicity