August 6, 2012
Dear Colleagues:
The National Toxicology Program’s Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM) in collaboration with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) is requesting nominations for an Independent Expert Panel. The panel would be responsible to assess the validation status of an up-and-down procedure (UDP) for acute dermal systemic toxicity testing. NICEATM is requesting nominations of scientific experts who can be considered for the Panel and submission of data for substances tested in in vivo acute dermal and oral systemic toxicity tests.
Acute poisoning from chemicals and chemical products, including pharmaceuticals, is a significant public health problem. In 2009, 2.5 million human poisoning cases were reported to US poison control centers (Bronstein et al., 2010). Dermal exposures were involved in 7.25% (179,832 cases) of the poisonings, which was second in frequency only to exposures by oral ingestion (2,080,781 cases). To protect workers and consumers from acute dermal poisoning exposures, regulatory agencies in the US (e.g., the Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, Department of Transportation, Occupational Safety and Health Administration) use the information from acute dermal systemic toxicity tests using rabbits or rodents to determine the potential of chemicals and chemical products to cause life-threatening health effects or death from acute dermal exposures. Test results are used as the basis for hazard classification and labeling and to inform consumers and workers how to avoid acute dermal exposures to hazardous chemicals and products during the handling, transport, and use of chemicals and products.
NICEATM is now developing an UDP for acute dermal systemic toxicity testing, which is one of the four most commonly conducted product safety tests worldwide. Alternative test methods for acute dermal systemic toxicity testing are an ICCVAM priority because such testing is required by multiple agencies, can involve large numbers of animals, and can result in significant pain and distress to test animals (ICCVAM, 2008).
Areas of relevant expertise include, but are not limited to biostatistics; human and veterinary dermatology, with an emphasis on evaluation and treatment of chemical injuries that produce systemic effects; human and animal toxicology, especially systemic effects due to dermal exposures; in vivo dermal and oral toxicity testing; and test method validation.
SOT members may nominate one or more qualified individuals for membership on the advisory committee. Self-nominations also are accepted. Each nomination should include the nominee's name, affiliation, contact information (i.e., mailing address, email address, telephone, and fax numbers), curriculum vitae, and a brief summary of relevant experience and qualifications.
SOT members should submit their CVs and any additional information to Martha Lindauer by Friday, August 24, 2012.
A subcommittee of SOT Council will review the nominations and will forward onto those applicants that Council members feel can best serve this Board.
Thank you for participating in this important process!
William Slikker Jr.
2012–2013 SOT President