ABSTRACT
A number of considerations arise as to the selection of animals for testing and the nature of test protocols, as well as the way the data will be analysed to estimate the consequences of potential human exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) general policy is that alternative animal selection is possible. Industrial groups that provide data to the EPA have for a long time requested that the Agency develop testing guidelines for evaluating chemical toxicity. The EPA has developed test guidelines that identify mammalian species and often name those that are preferred. The EPA has proposed a set of risk-assessment guidelines for cancer, the evaluation of chemical exposure, mutagenicity, developmental toxicity, and complex mixtures. Metabolic considerations represent another important area that will influence risk assessment. Progress has been made over the past few years in the area of risk assessment, and the future looks even brighter.
