{"title":"The assessment and communication of genotoxicity test results: moving beyond binary","authors":"Takashi Omori , Makoto Hayashi","doi":"10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503722","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Potential genotoxicity is one of the essential considerations in the safety assessment of chemicals to which humans may be exposed. Several endpoints are used to evaluate genotoxicity, but, in each case, a binary assessment (negative/positive) is demanded by regulators. The use of binary assessment has rarely been questioned, although we have pointed out some questions and difficulties with regard to the statistical methods used and the evaluation of biological significance, both of which inform the calls of negative/ positive. Here, we discuss these issues further, focusing on ambiguity and uncertainty in the binary paradigm, and we seek a new direction for genotoxicity assessment. To this end, we need to understand, acknowledge, and accept these ambiguities and study-related uncertainties and then to consider new strategies for safety assessment. We also discuss the communication of ambiguity and uncertainty in risk communication.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":18799,"journal":{"name":"Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis","volume":"893 ","pages":"Article 503722"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1383571823001407","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Potential genotoxicity is one of the essential considerations in the safety assessment of chemicals to which humans may be exposed. Several endpoints are used to evaluate genotoxicity, but, in each case, a binary assessment (negative/positive) is demanded by regulators. The use of binary assessment has rarely been questioned, although we have pointed out some questions and difficulties with regard to the statistical methods used and the evaluation of biological significance, both of which inform the calls of negative/ positive. Here, we discuss these issues further, focusing on ambiguity and uncertainty in the binary paradigm, and we seek a new direction for genotoxicity assessment. To this end, we need to understand, acknowledge, and accept these ambiguities and study-related uncertainties and then to consider new strategies for safety assessment. We also discuss the communication of ambiguity and uncertainty in risk communication.
期刊介绍:
Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis (MRGTEM) publishes papers advancing knowledge in the field of genetic toxicology. Papers are welcomed in the following areas:
New developments in genotoxicity testing of chemical agents (e.g. improvements in methodology of assay systems and interpretation of results).
Alternatives to and refinement of the use of animals in genotoxicity testing.
Nano-genotoxicology, the study of genotoxicity hazards and risks related to novel man-made nanomaterials.
Studies of epigenetic changes in relation to genotoxic effects.
The use of structure-activity relationships in predicting genotoxic effects.
The isolation and chemical characterization of novel environmental mutagens.
The measurement of genotoxic effects in human populations, when accompanied by quantitative measurements of environmental or occupational exposures.
The application of novel technologies for assessing the hazard and risks associated with genotoxic substances (e.g. OMICS or other high-throughput approaches to genotoxicity testing).
MRGTEM is now accepting submissions for a new section of the journal: Current Topics in Genotoxicity Testing, that will be dedicated to the discussion of current issues relating to design, interpretation and strategic use of genotoxicity tests. This section is envisaged to include discussions relating to the development of new international testing guidelines, but also to wider topics in the field. The evaluation of contrasting or opposing viewpoints is welcomed as long as the presentation is in accordance with the journal''s aims, scope, and policies.