Oct 5 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made major adjustments to its recently published 'Nanomaterials Research Strategy' that should greatly reduce the use of animals in assessing nanomaterials while improving the agency's ability to assess hazards to humans. The strategy now incorporates many of PETA's recommendations on the draft version.
The PETA recommendations that the EPA implemented include a thorough physical characterization and application of a comprehensive range of in vitro tests that can prioritize materials for further testing as well as inform and reduce any subsequent testing. The EPA has also taken PETA's recommendations on ecological testing into consideration and has stated the agency's desire to reduce whole animal-based methods for environmental studies.
Importantly, the research strategy articulates the goal of identifying non-animal methods that may ultimately be able to preclude the perceived need for any in vivo testing. The EPA appears to have taken to heart the principles outlined in the National Academy of Sciences' report 'Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy,' which calls for increased use of current non-animal technologies and biological understanding that is more precise, relevant, and that will improve hazard assessment.
"We are gratified that the EPA recognizes that ensuring safe nanomaterials can be accomplished by using and investing in in vitro and in silico nanotoxicity testing methods," says Samantha Dozier, Ph.D., PETA's policy adviser for nanomaterials. "It is heartening to see that PETA and the EPA can work toward the mutual goal of reducing animal use while improving toxicity testing."
To read PETA's recommendations on the draft version, please click here.