Article type
Year
Abstract
Background: Toxicology as a field has not often produced efficient and timely evidence for decision making in public health. In fact, of the 87,000 chemicals registered for commerce in the USA, only one-tenth have been tested for potential harms. Several in vitro and in vivo tests have been adopted, without appropriate validation, and the process of hazard assessment is extremely slow and largely based on non-transparent practices such as 'expert opinion' and 'weight of evidence'. In response to this, the US National Research Council called for the adoption of evidence-based methods and systematic reviews in regulatory decision making. EPA, FDA and the European Food Safety Agency have recently endorsed these methods in their assessments of safety and risk.
Objectives: Evaluating the effects of the adoption of evidence-based methods in toxicology for filtering the primary literature by developing criteria to identify tests of low quality and high risk of bias and thereby accelerating hazard assessment.
Methods: We compare current practices in toxicology with principles and methods utilized in evidence-based medicine and health care, with emphasis on Cochrane's record. Several aspects are analyzed: validity and quality of the evidence, transparency, time for evaluation, unnecessary animal loss, consistency of the evaluations.
Results: Evidence-based toxicology (EBT) methods could provide an effective filter of low-quality studies and reduce the overall time and resources needed for risk assessment in the future. EBT methods proposed by OHAT and Navigation Guide represent the first step in this direction, although further validation of the methods is necessary. Adherence to Cochrane principles, as well as transparent development of systematic methods, is a fundamental prerequisite for future implementation of EBT.
Conclusions: The adoption of consistent principles and methods is likely to enhance the validity, transparency, efficiency and acceptance of toxicological evidence, with benefits in terms of reducing the burden of animal used, delays and costs for all stakeholders (researchers, consumers, industry).
Objectives: Evaluating the effects of the adoption of evidence-based methods in toxicology for filtering the primary literature by developing criteria to identify tests of low quality and high risk of bias and thereby accelerating hazard assessment.
Methods: We compare current practices in toxicology with principles and methods utilized in evidence-based medicine and health care, with emphasis on Cochrane's record. Several aspects are analyzed: validity and quality of the evidence, transparency, time for evaluation, unnecessary animal loss, consistency of the evaluations.
Results: Evidence-based toxicology (EBT) methods could provide an effective filter of low-quality studies and reduce the overall time and resources needed for risk assessment in the future. EBT methods proposed by OHAT and Navigation Guide represent the first step in this direction, although further validation of the methods is necessary. Adherence to Cochrane principles, as well as transparent development of systematic methods, is a fundamental prerequisite for future implementation of EBT.
Conclusions: The adoption of consistent principles and methods is likely to enhance the validity, transparency, efficiency and acceptance of toxicological evidence, with benefits in terms of reducing the burden of animal used, delays and costs for all stakeholders (researchers, consumers, industry).