Current ecotoxicity testing needs among selected U.S. federal agencies

U.S. regulatory and research agencies use ecotoxicity test data to assess the hazards associated with substances that may be released into the environment, including but not limited to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, and color additives. These data are used to conduct hazard assessments and evaluate potential risks to aquatic life (e.g., invertebrates, fish), birds, wildlife species, or the environment. To identify opportunities for regulatory uses of non-animal replacements for ecotoxicity tests, the needs and uses for data from tests utilizing animals must first be clarified. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to identify the ecotoxicity test data relied upon by U.S. federal agencies. The standards, test guidelines, guidance documents, and/or endpoints that are used to address each of the agencies’ regulatory and research needs regarding ecotoxicity testing are described in the context of their application to decision-making. Testing and information use, needs, and/or requirements relevant to the regulatory or programmatic mandates of the agencies taking part in the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods Ecotoxicology Workgroup are captured. This information will be useful for coordinating efforts to develop and implement alternative test methods to reduce, refine, or replace animal use in chemical safety evaluations

Alternative approaches for acute inhalation toxicity testing to address global regulatory and non-regulatory data requirements: an international workshop report

Inhalation toxicity testing, which provides the basis for hazard labeling and risk management of chemicals with potential exposure to the respiratory tract, has traditionally been conducted using animals. Significant research efforts have been directed at the development of mechanistically based, non-animal testing approaches that hold promise to provide human-relevant data and an enhanced understanding of toxicity mechanisms. A September 2016 workshop, “Alternative Approaches for Acute Inhalation Toxicity Testing to Address Global Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Data Requirements”, explored current testing requirements and ongoing efforts to achieve global regulatory acceptance for non-animal testing approaches. The importance of using integrated approaches that combine existing data with in vitro and/or computational approaches to generate new data was discussed. Approaches were also proposed to develop a strategy for identifying and overcoming obstacles to replacing animal tests. Attendees noted the importance of dosimetry considerations and of understanding mechanisms of acute toxicity, which could be facilitated by the development of adverse outcome pathways. Recommendations were made to (1) develop a database of existing acute inhalation toxicity data; (2) prepare a state-of-the-science review of dosimetry determinants, mechanisms of toxicity, and existing approaches to assess acute inhalation toxicity; (3) identify and optimize in silico models; and (4) develop a decision tree/testing strategy, considering physicochemical properties and dosimetry, and conduct proof-of-concept testing. Working groups have been established to implement these recommendations

Research to Inform the EPA National PFAS Testing Strategy

Presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Science Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (AAAS ASTHO) The Science of PFAS Exposure and Effects on Human Health Webinar December 2022 Search for CCTE records in EPA’s Science Inventory by typing in the title at this link. https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_search_results.cfm?advSearch=true&showCriteria=2&keyword=CCTE&TIMSType=&TIMSSubTypeID=&epaNumber=&ombCat=Any&dateBeginPublishedPresented=07/01/2017&dateEndPublishedPresented=&dateBeginUpdated=&dateEndUpdated=&DEID=&personName=&personID=&role=Any&journalName=&journalID=&publisherName=&publisherID=&sortBy=pubDate&count=25 </p

Relationships amongst older adults’ cognitive and motor speech abilities: a systematic review

Background. Age-related changes to motor speech performance are only partially explained by physiological changes in the speech system. This systematic review gathered evidence on the potential role of cognitive abilities.Method. The protocol was pre-registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021235159). PsychInfo, PubMED, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were last searched on 05/08/2021. Eligible studies measured relationships between cognitive and motor speech abilities in healthy adults, and/or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), aged 60+ years. Data were extracted, and study quality was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT; Hong et al., 2018). Results were tabulated and presented using a narrative synthesis.Results. Thirty-two studies including 1,990 older adults were identified. Ten of 23 studies investigating attention/executive functioning reported significant relationships with speech in 611 healthy older adults. In MCI, the strongest evidence is for a relationship between long-term memory and pausing, identified in 4 of 4 studies of 148 participants. For other cognitive abilities, significant gaps in the literature and heterogeneity in measurements limits the ability to make general conclusions. In addition, only 10 studies overall contain the highest quality evidence. Discussion and conclusions. Attentional resources may negatively impact motor speech performance in aging. Other cognitive abilities may also be involved but more evidence is needed. The same common cause responsible for age-related cognitive and sensory declines could therefore affect motor speech. Further research using a range of cognitive measures and constrained speech tasks is required to understand the effects of cognitive aging on motor speech performance.</p

A systematic review of the relationships amongst older adults' cognitive and motor speech abilities

Age-related differences in motor speech performance may be only partially explained by physiological factors. In this systematic review we investigated the extent to which cognition is related to older adults’ motor speech production. PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were last searched on 1st October 2024. Eligible studies involved healthy older adults, and/or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with an average age of 60 or above. Study quality was formally evaluated and results presented via a narrative synthesis. In total, there were 22 eligible studies identified including 747 older adults. Ten of eighteen studies investigating attention/executive abilities reported significant relationships with motor speech subprocesses in 571 of 661 participants. Relationships between other cognitive abilities and motor speech outcomes were also reported, however, there were significant gaps in the literature and heterogeneity in the measurements used. In addition, only five studies contained the highest quality evidence. Cognition, and potentially executive abilities specifically, may affect speech articulation in healthy aging and in MCI. Further research implementing a range of tasks is required to better understand the trajectory of age-related changes to cognition and motor speech production

A systematic review of the relationships amongst older adults’ cognitive and motor speech abilities

Age-related differences in motor speech performance may be only partially explained by physiological factors. In this systematic review we investigated the extent to which cognition is related to older adults’ speech. PsychInfo, PubMED, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were last searched on 21st June 2022. Eligible studies involved healthy older adults, and/or those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), aged 60+. Study quality was formally evaluated and results presented via a narrative synthesis. In total, there were twenty-eight eligible studies identified including 1,848 older adults. Most notably, three of four studies reported significant associations between global cognition and articulation in 787 of 817 participants. Eleven of twenty-two studies investigating attention/executive abilities reported significant relationships with motor speech subprocesses in 817 of 1002 participants. Relationships between other cognitive abilities and motor speech outcomes were also reported, however, there were significant gaps in the literature and heterogeneity in the measurements used. In addition, only seven studies contained the highest quality evidence. Global cognition, and potentially executive abilities specifically, may affect speech articulation in healthy ageing and in MCI. Further research implementing a range of tasks is required to better understand the trajectory of age-related changes to cognition and motor speech production