Non-animal Tests for Evaluating the Toxicity of Solid Xenobiotics The Report and Recommendations of ECVAM Workshop 30

Bice Fubini, Ann E. Aust, Robert E. Bolton, Paul J.A. Borm, Joachim Bruch, Gabriela Ciapetti, Ken Donaldson, Zoé Elias, Julie Gold, Marie Claude Jaurand, Agnes B. Kane, Dominique Lison and Hartwig Muhle

This is the report of the thirtieth of a series of workshops organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). The workshop on Non-animal Tests for Evaluating the Toxicity of Solid Xenobiotics was held in Angera, Italy, on 28–31 October 1997, under the chairmanship of Bice Fubini (University of Turin, Italy). The aims of this workshop were to address the following points: a) the current status of those tests which are applicable for investigating the toxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of solid materials; b) the surface and bulk properties of a solid particle and/or a biomaterial which cause adverse reactions in vivo; c) the physicochemical properties which should be investigated during any prescreening of new materials, before any testing of the material in vivo; and d) current research needs, specifically with respect to the development of new testing methods and strategies. Recommendations were also made concerning the use of alternative test methods for evaluating the toxicities of solid xenobiotics.