United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Prevention, Pesticides

and Toxic Substances

(7101)

EPA 712–C–99–352

July 1999

Health Effects Test

Guidelines

OPPTS 870.8355

Combined Chronic

Toxicity/Carcinogenicity

Testing of Respirable

Fibrous Particles

‘‘Public Draft’’
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INTRODUCTION

This guideline is one of a series of test guidelines that have been

developed by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances,

United States Environmental Protection Agency for use in the testing of

pesticides and toxic substances, and the development of test data that must

be submitted to the Agency for review under Federal regulations.

The Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances (OPPTS)

has developed this guideline through a process of harmonization that

blended the testing guidance and requirements that existed in the Office

of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and appeared in Title 40,

Chapter I, Subchapter R of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the

Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) which appeared in publications of the

National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and the guidelines published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

(OECD).

The purpose of harmonizing these guidelines into a single set of

OPPTS guidelines is to minimize variations among the testing procedures

that must be performed to meet the data requirements of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act (15

U.S.C. 2601) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

(7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.).

Public Draft Access Information: This draft guideline is part of a

series of related harmonized guidelines that need to be considered as a

unit. For copies: These guidelines are available electronically from EPA’s

World Wide Web site (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/research.htm) under

the heading ‘‘Researchers and Scientists/Test Methods and Guidelines/

OPPTS Harmonized Test Guidelines’’ or in paper by contacting the OPP

Public Docket at (703) 305–5805 or by e-mail: opp-docket@epa.gov.

To Submit Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit comments. By mail: Public Docket and Freedom of Information Section, Office

of Pesticide Programs, Field Operations Division (7506C), Environmental

Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW., Washington, DC 20460. In person:

bring to: Rm. 1132, Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending

electronic mail (e-mail) to: oppdocket@epa.gov.

Final Guideline Release: This guideline is available from the U.S.

Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 on disks or paper

copies: call (202) 512–0132. This guideline is also available electronically

in PDF (portable document format) from EPA’s World Wide Web site

(http://www.epa.gov/epahome/research.htm) under the heading ‘‘Researchers and Scientists/Test Methods and Guidelines/OPPTS Harmonized Test

Guidelines.’’
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OPPTS 870.8355 Combined Chronic Toxicity/Carcinogenicity Testing

of Respirable Fibrous Particles.

(a) Scope—(1) Applicability. This guideline is intended to meet testing requirements of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (15 U.S.C.

2601).

(2) Background. The source materials used in developing this

OPPTS test guideline are 40 CFR 798.3320 Combined Chronic Toxicity/

Oncogenicity, and EPA–748–R–96–001 Workshop Report on Chronic Inhalation Toxicity and Carcinogenicity Testing of Respirable Fibrous Particles.

(b) Purpose. The objective of a combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study is to determine the effects of a fibrous substance in a mammalian species following prolonged and repeated inhalation exposure. The

application of this guideline should generate data which identify the majority of chronic and carcinogenicity effects and determine dose-response relationships. The design and conduct should allow for the detection of neoplastic effects and a determination of the carcinogenic potential as well

as general toxicity, including neurological, physiological, biochemical, and

hematological effects and exposure-related morphological (pathology) effects.

(c) Definitions. The definitions in section 3 of TSCA and the definitions in 40 CFR Part 792—Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLP)

apply to this guideline. The following definitions also apply to this guideline.

Carcinogenicity is the development of neoplastic lesions as a result

of the repeated daily exposure of experimental animals to the test substance by the inhalation route of exposure.

Chronic toxicity is the adverse effects occurring as a result of the

repeated daily exposure of experimental animals to the test substance by

the inhalation route of exposure.

Cumulative toxicity is the adverse effects of repeated dose occurring

as a result of prolonged action on, or increased concentration of, the administered test substance in susceptible tissues.

Dose/concentration in a combined chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity

study is the amount of test substance administered via inhalation routes

for a period of up to 24 months. Concentration of fibrous particles is expressed as absolute number of fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc).

Gravimetric concentration expressed as milligrams per cubic meter (mg/

m3) is used for daily monitoring of the generated aerosols in order to

achieve the intended number of fiber per unit of aerosol volume (f/cc).
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Fibrous particles/fibers are generally defined as elongated particles

with a length-to-diameter ratio (i.e., aspect ratio) equal to or greater than

3 to 1. This definition is presumed to include particles with varying shapes

such as rod-like, curly, or acicular (needle-like) shapes, and having different structural units commonly referred to as fibers, fibrils, or whiskers.

No-observed-effect-level (NOEL) is the maximum dose used in a

study which produces no observed adverse effects.

Respirable means that the particle in question can penetrate to the

alveolar region upon inhalation. There are considerable differences in fiber

respirability between laboratory rodents and humans. A ‘‘rat-respirable

fiber’’ is defined as a fiber having an aerodynamic diameter of less than

3 μm. A fiber having an aerodynamic diameter of less than 5 is respirable

by humans. (Aerodynamic diameter, the most important determinant of

the respirability of a fiber, is different from its actual, geometry diameter.

The aerodynamic diameter of a fiber is dependent on its density and aspect

ratio. For example, fibers having actual diameters of 0.25 to 2.0 μm would

have aerodynamic diameters three to four times their actual diameters if

their density is 1g/cm3 and their lengths are between 10 and 150 μm).

Target organ is any organ of a test animal showing evidence of an

effect induced by a test substance.

(d) Test procedure—(1) Animal selection—(i) Species and strain.

For the study of respirable fibrous particles via the inhalation route, the

rat has been demonstrated to be the most appropriate species because of

its susceptibility to fiber-induced lung diseases (fibrosis and lung tumors).

Commonly used laboratory strains should be employed. The strain selected

should be susceptible to the carcinogenic or toxic effect of fibrous particles. The criteria for a suitable strain include:

(A) A low background rate of neoplasia.

(B) A low background rate of pulmonary disease.

(C) Longevity.

(D) A history of laboratory use.

When the fiber in question is expected to be a mesothelioma inducer

(such as erionite fiber), testing in the hamster as a second rodent species

is recommended since the hamster appears to be more sensitive than the

rat with respect to fiber-induced mesotheliomas. If other species are used,

the tester should provide justification/reasoning for the selection.

(ii) Age/weight. (A) Testing should be started with young healthy

animals as soon as possible after weaning and acclimatization.

(B) Dosing should generally begin no later than 8 weeks of age.
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(C) At commencement of the study, the weight variation of animals

used should not exceed 20 percent of the mean weight for each sex.

(iii) Sex. (A) Equal numbers of animals of each sex should be used

at each dose level.

(B) Females should be nulliparous and nonpregnant.

(iv) Numbers. (A) At least 100 rodents (50 males and 50 females)

should be used at each dose level and concurrent control group. At least

40 additional rodents (20 males and 20 females) should be used for satellite dose groups and the satellite control group. The purpose of the satellite groups are for interim sacrifices for lung burden analysis, BALF

(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) analysis and the evaluation of pathology

other than neoplasm (e.g., fibrosis).

(B) For a meaningful and valid statistical evaluation of long term

exposure and for a valid interpretation of negative results, the number of

animals in any group should not fall below 50 percent at 18 months. Survival in any group should not fall below 25 percent at 24 months.

(C) To avoid bias, the use of adequate randomization procedures for

the proper allocation of animals to test and control groups is required.

(D) Each animal should be assigned a unique identification number.

Dead animals (and their preserved organs) and tissues, and microscopic

slides should be identified by reference to the unique numbers assigned.

(v) Husbandry. (A) Animals should be housed individually during

exposure in inhalation studies.

(B) The temperature of the experimental animal rooms should be at

22 ± 3°C.

(C) The relative humidity of the experimental animal rooms should

be 30 to 70 percent.

(D) Where lighting is artificial, the sequence should be 12 h light/

12 h dark.

(E) Control and test animals should be fed from the same batch and

lot. The feed should be analyzed to assure uniform distribution and adequacy of nutritional requirements of the species tested and for impurities

that might influence the outcome of the test. Animals should be fed and

watered ad libitum with food replaced at least weekly.

(F) The study should not be initiated until animals have been allowed

a period of acclimatization/quarantine to environmental conditions, nor

should animals from outside sources be placed on test without an adequate

period of quarantine.
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(2) Control and test substances. (i) One lot of the test substance

should be used throughout the duration of the study if possible, and the

research sample should be stored under conditions that maintain its purity

and stability. Prior to the initiation of the study, there should be a characterization of the test substance, including the purity and physicochemical

properties (e.g., fiber morphology, dimension, size distribution, aerodynamic diameter, chemistry, density, solubility, surface characteristics,

the ability of a fiber to split longitudinally or cross-sectionally) of the test

fiber, and, if possible, the name and quantities of contaminants and impurities.

(ii) To maximize sensitivity of animal inhalation exposure studies to

health effects of fibers, the test material should consist of rat-respirable

fibers and should be enriched with the most potent human respirable fraction (i.e., long, thin fibers); therefore, rodent inhalation exposure studies

should use an exposure aerosol that is, as far as is technically feasible,

enriched with the following fiber size fractions: Rat-respirable fibers with

aspect ratio of at least 3:1 and aerodynamic diameter less than 3 μm, and

human respirable fibers with lengths of at least 20 μm or fibers with high

aspect ratios. The fraction of long fibers (>20 μm) should be specified;

10 percent to 20 percent would be appropriate. The aerosolized fibers

should be discharged to Boltzmann equilibrium before being delivered to

the test species.

(3) Control groups. A concurrent control group (50 males and 50

females) and a satellite control group (10 males and 10 females) are required. These groups should be untreated. Animals in the satellite control

group should be sacrificed at the same time the satellite test group is terminated. A positive control group may not need to be included in every

study, but each new test system (including use of a different animal species

and strain) should be validated with a positive control material.

(4) Dose levels and dose selection. (i) For risk assessment purposes,

at least three dose levels should be used, in addition to the concurrent

control group. Dose levels should be spaced to produce a gradation of

effects. A rationale for the doses selected must be provided.

(ii) The highest fiber concentration to be tested in a chronic study

is known as the maximum aerosol concentration or MAC. The MAC

should be based on the total number of inhaled particles (fibers and nonfibrous particles combined). The MAC should be considered based on a

combination of the following parameters determined during lung burden

analysis and BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) analysis in a 90-day

subchronic inhalation study: Altered alveolar macrophage mediated particle clearance rate, fiber lung burden normalized to exposure concentration, cell proliferation, histopathology, inflammation (quantitatively determined as percentage increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]

in lung lavage samples) and lung weight. An appropriate lung burden of
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critical fibers (long and thin) should be achieved. In addition, impairment

of clearance should be assessed in a 90-day subchronic inhalation study

via challenge with a tagged particle. Clearance should be assessed after

the 90-day exposure period and the clearance of the labelled particles

should be measured over a recovery period for another 3 months. These

parameters should be considered together, rather than individually, in an

attempt to define a MAC.

(iii) The intermediate dose levels should be spaced to produce a gradation of toxic effects.

(iv) The lowest dose level should produce no evidence of toxicity.

(5) Administration of the test substance. Inhalation is the major

route of human exposure of fibrous particles, and chronic inhalation studies in rodents are deemed appropriate tests for evaluating inhalation hazard

and risk of fibers to humans. Either nose-only or whole-body exposure

can be used.

(i) The animals should be exposed to the test substance, for 6 h/day

on a 7–day per week basis, for a period of at least 24 months in rats.

However, based primarily on practical considerations, exposure for 6 h/

day on a 5–day per week basis is acceptable. Due to shorter life span

of hamsters, their exposure duration could be shorter, based upon survival/

lifetime expectancy.

(ii) The animals should be tested in dynamic inhalation equipment

designed to sustain a minimum air flow of 10 air changes per hour, an

adequate oxygen content of at least 19 percent, and uniform conditions

throughout the exposure chamber. Maintenance of slight negative pressure

inside the chamber will prevent leakage of the test substance into surrounding areas.

(iii) The selection of a dynamic inhalation chamber should be appropriate for the test substance and test system. Where a whole body chamber

is used, individual housing must be used to minimize crowding of the

test animals and maximize their exposure to the test substance. To ensure

stability of a chamber atmosphere, the total volume occupied by the test

animals should not exceed 5 percent of the volume of the test chamber.

The animals should be acclimated and heat stress minimized.

(iv) The temperature at which the test is performed should be maintained at 22 ± 3°C. The relative humidity should be maintained between

30 to 70 percent.

(v) The rate of air flow should be monitored continuously but recorded at least every 30 minutes.

(vi) Temperature and humidity should be monitored continuously but

should be recorded at least every 30 minutes.
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(vii) During the development of the generating system, fiber/particle

size analysis should be performed to establish the stability of aerosol concentrations with respect to fiber size. During exposure, analysis should

be conducted to determine the consistency of fiber size distribution and

the actual concentrations of the test substance. The frequency of exposure

atmosphere monitoring should be daily for mass concentration, weekly for

fiber concentration and bivariate size distribution.

(viii) The actual concentrations of the test substance should be measured in the breathing zone. Lung burden analyses should be conducted

after 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of exposure to provide data on biopersistence of the test fibers and serve as a better measure of internal dose. Data

also should be obtained on fiber deposition in the nasal cavity and the

fiber burden in the thoracic lymph nodes. The fibers should be analyzed

for number, bivariate size distribution and chemistry. For fiber burden

analysis, one of the two lungs (left or right) should be used, rather than

only the accessory lobe. Five to six animals per exposure group should

be studied at each time point.

(ix) Feed should be withheld during exposure. Water may also be

withheld during exposure.

(6) Observation period. The chronic inhalation exposure study with

fibers should be a lifetime study. The animals should be observed for their

life span after the exposure duration is completed (at least 24 months for

rats); final sacrifice should be carried out only when survival of the control

group reaches 20 percent.

(7) Observation of animals. (i) Observations should be at least once

each day for morbidity and mortality. Appropriate actions should be taken

to minimize loss of animals from the study (e.g., necropsy or refrigeration

of those animals found dead and isolation or sacrifice of weak or moribund

animals).

(ii) A careful clinical examination should be made at least once weekly. Observations should be detailed and carefully recorded, preferably

using explicitly defined scales. Observations should include, but not be

limited to, evaluation of skin and fur, eyes and mucous membranes, respiratory and circulatory effects, autonomic effects such as salivation,

central nervous system effects, including tremors and convulsions, changes

in the level of motor activity, gait and posture, reactivity to handling or

sensory stimuli, grip strength and stereotypies or bizarre behavior (e.g.,

self-mutilation, walking backwards).

(iii) Body weights should be recorded individually for all animals:

Once a week during the first 13 weeks of the study and at least once

every 4 weeks thereafter unless signs of clinical toxicity suggest more frequent weighing to facilitate monitoring of health status.
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(iv) Moribund animals should be removed and sacrificed when noticed and the time of death should be recorded as precisely as possible.

At the end of the study period, all survivors should be sacrificed.

(8) Clinical pathology. Hematology, clinical chemistry and

urinalyses should be performed from 10 animals per sex per group. The

parameters should be examined at approximately 6 month intervals during

the conduct of the study and at termination. If possible, these collections

should be from the same animals at each interval. If hematological and

biochemical effects are seen in the subchronic study, testing should also

be performed at 3 months. If clinical observations suggest deterioration

in health of the animals during the study, a differential blood count of

the affected animals should be performed.

(i) Hematology. The recommended parameters are: Hemoglobin and

hematocrit concentrations, red blood cell count, white blood cell count,

differential leukocyte count, platelet count and a measure of clotting potential, such as prothrombin time or thromboplastin time.

(ii) Clinical chemistry. Parameters which are considered appropriate

to all studies are electrolyte balance, carbohydrate metabolism, and liver

and kidney function. The selection of specific tests will be influenced by

observations on the mode of action of the substance and signs of clinical

toxicity. Suggested blood clinical chemistry determinations are:

(A) Electrolytes.

(1) Calcium.

(2) Chloride.

(3) Magnesium.

(4) Phosphorous.

(5) Potassium.

(6) Sodium.

(B) Enzymes.

(1) Alkaline phosphatase.

(2) Alanine aminotransferase.

(3) Aspartate aminotransferase.

(4) Gamma glutamyl transferase.

(C) Other.

(1) Albumin.
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(2) Blood creatinine.

(3) Blood urea nitrogen.

(4) Globulin.

(5) Glucose (fasting).

(6) Total Bilirubin.

(7) Total cholesterol.

(8) Total serum protein.

Other determinations which may be necessary for an adequate toxicological evaluation include analyses of lipids, hormones, acid/base balance, methemoglobin and cholinesterase. Additional clinical chemistry

may be employed where necessary to extend the investigation of observed

effects.

(iii) Urinalyses. The following determinations should be made from

either individual animals or on a pooled sample per sex per group: Appearance (volume and specific gravity), protein, glucose, ketones, bilirubin,

occult blood (semiquantitatively), and microscopy of sediment

(semiquantitatively).

(9) BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). BALF analysis should be

conducted at various time points (e.g., at 3, 6, 12 , 18 and 24 month)

on subgroups of 5-6 rats/group. Lavage parameters to be determined include: Total cell count, differential cell counts (PMN, alveolar

macrophages, lymphocytes, and others), total protein, LDH and beta-glucuronidase as examples of cytoplasmic and lysosomal enzymes.

(10) Ophthalmological examination. Examinations should be made

on all animals using an ophthalmoscope or an equivalent device prior to

the administration of the test substance and at termination of the study

on 10 animals per sex in the high-dose and control groups. If changes

in eyes are detected, all animals should be examined.

(11) Gross necropsy. (i) A complete gross examination should be

performed on all animals, including those which died during the experiment or were killed in a moribund condition.

(ii) The liver, lungs, kidneys, brain, spleen, and gonads should be

trimmed and weighed wet, as soon as possible after dissection to avoid

drying. The organs should be weighed from interim sacrifice animals as

well as from at least 10 animals per sex per group at terminal sacrifice.

(iii) The following organs and tissues, or representative samples thereof, should be preserved in a suitable medium for possible future

histopathological examination.
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(A) Digestive system.

(1) Salivary glands.

(2) Esophagus.

(3) Stomach.

(4) Duodenum.

(5) Jejunum.

(6) Ileum.

(7) Cecum.

(8) Colon.

(9) Rectum.

(10) Liver.

(11) Pancreas.

(12) Gallbladder (mice).

(13) Bile duct (rat).

(B) Nervous system.

(1) Brain (multiple sections).

(2) Pituitary.

(3) Peripheral nerves.

(4) Spinal cord (three levels).

(5) Eyes (retina, optic nerve).

(C) Glandular system.

(1) Adrenals.

(2) Parathyroids.

(3) Thyroids.

(D) Respiratory system.

(1) Pleura.

(2)Trachea.

(3) Lung.
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(4) Pharynx.

(5) Larynx.

(6) Nose.

(E) Cardiovascular/hematopoietic system.

(1) Aorta (thoracic).

(2) Heart.

(3) Bone marrow.

(4) Lymph nodes.

(5) Spleen.

(6) Thymus.

(F) Urogenital system.

(1) Kidneys.

(2) Urinary bladder.

(3) Prostate.

(4) Testes/epididymides.

(5) Seminal vesicles.

(6) Uterus.

(7) Ovaries.

(G) Other.

(1) All gross lesions and masses.

(2) Sternum and/or femur.

(iv) In inhalation studies of fibers, the entire respiratory tract, including nose, pharynx, larynx, paranasal sinuses, lungs, trachea and pleura

should be examined and preserved.

(v) Inflation of lungs and urinary bladder with a fixative is the optimal

method for preservation of these tissues. The proper inflation and fixation

of the lungs in inhalation studies is essential for appropriate and valid

histopathological examination.

(vi) Information from clinical pathology and other in-life data should

be considered before microscopic examination, since these data may provide significant guidance to the pathologist.
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(12) Histopathology. (i) The following histopathology should be performed:

(A) Full histopathology on the organs and tissues, listed under paragraph (d)(11)(iii) of this guideline of all animals in the control and high

dose groups and of all animals that died or were killed during the study.

(B) All gross lesions in all animals.

(C) Target organs/tissues in all animals. Organs/tissues of the respiratory tract represent the target organs/tissues for evaluating effects of

inhaled fibers. Major effects include pulmonary fibrosis, lung tumors and

mesotheliomas. Special attention to examination of the lungs of rodents

should be made for evidence of infection since this provides an assessment

of the state of health of the animals.

(D) Livers and kidneys of all animals.

(ii) If the results show substantial alteration of the animal’s normal

life span, the induction of effects that might affect a neoplastic response,

or other effects that might compromise the significance of the data, the

next lower levels should be examined fully as described in paragraph

(d)(12)(i) of this guideline.

(iii) An attempt should be made to correlate gross observations with

microscopic findings.

(iv) Tissues and organs designated for microscopic examination

should be fixed in 10 percent buffered formalin or a recognized suitable

fixative as soon as necropsy is performed and no less than 48 hours prior

to trimming. Tissues should be trimmed to a maximum thickness of 0.4

cm for processing.

(e) Data and reporting—(1) Treatment of results. (i) Data should

be summarized in tabular form, showing for each test group the number

of animals at the start of the test, the number of animals showing lesions,

the types of lesions and the percentage of animals displaying each type

of lesion.

(ii) All observed results, (quantitative and qualitative) should be evaluated by an appropriate statistical method. Any generally accepted statistical methods may be used; the statistical methods including significance

criteria should be selected during the design of the study.

(2) Evaluation of study results. (i) The findings of a combined

chronic toxicity/carcinogenicity study should be evaluated in conjunction

with the findings of previous studies and considered in terms of the toxic

effects, the necropsy and histopathological findings. The evaluation will

include the relationship between the dose of the test substance and the

presence, incidence and severity of abnormalities (including behavioral and
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clinical abnormalities), gross lesions, identified target organs, body weight

changes, effects on mortality and any other general or specific toxic effects.

(ii) Non-neoplastic and neoplastic endpoints recorded should include,

but not be limited to, epithelial hyperplasia, alveolar bronchiolization,

metaplasia, adenomas, mesotheliomas, and carcinomas. A dissecting microscope should be used to examine for mesotheliomas. In distinguishing

between hyperplasia and mesothelioma, standard diagnostic criteria should

be applied to identified lesions. Established published guidelines on the

use of blinding in histopathology should be followed, e.g., those published

by the Society of American Pathologists.

(iii) In order for a negative test to be acceptable, it should meet the

following criteria—no more than 10 percent of any group is lost due to

autolysis, cannibalism, or management problems, and survival in each

group is no less than 50 percent at 15 months for hamsters and 18 months

for rats. Survival should not fall below 25 percent at 18 months for hamsters and 24 months for rats. For acceptance of the results of a chronic

inhalation exposure study with fibers as negative, the study must have been

designed and conducted according to the criteria outlined previously, the

health effects of concern must not be significantly more frequent in the

exposure groups than in the control group. In order to detect a positive

effect, the power of the study should be such that the type I error is controlled at 0.05 and as the type II error is controlled at 0.2.

(iv) The use of historical control data from an appropriate time period

from the same testing laboratory (i.e., the incidence of tumors and other

suspect lesions normally occurring under the same laboratory conditions

and in the same strain of animals employed in the test) is helpful for assessing the significance of changes observed in the current study.

(3) Test report. (i) In addition to the reporting requirements as specified under 40 CFR part 792, subpart J, 40 CFR part 160, the following

specific information should be reported:

(A) Test substance characterization should include:

(1) Chemical identification.

(2) Lot or batch number.

(3) Physicochemical properties (i.e., fiber morphology, dimension,

size distribution, aerodynamic diameter, chemistry, density, solubility, surface characteristics, the ability of a fiber to split longitudinally or crosssectionally).

(4) Purity/impurities.

(B) Test system should contain data on:
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(1) Species and strain of animals used and rationale for selection if

other than that recommended.

(2) Age including body weight data and sex.

(3) Test environment including cage conditions, ambient temperature,

humidity, and light/dark periods.

(C) Test procedure should include the following data:

(1) Method of randomization used.

(2) Full description of experimental design and procedure.

(3) Dose regimen including levels, methods, and volume.

(D) Test conditions. The following exposure conditions must be reported.

(1) Description of exposure apparatus including design, type, dimensions, source of air, system for generating particulates and aerosols, method of conditioning air, treatment of exhaust air and the method of housing

the animals in a test chamber.

(2) The equipment for measuring temperature, humidity, and fiber/

particulate aerosol concentrations and size should be described.

(E) Exposure data. These should be tabulated and presented with

mean values and a measure of variability (e.g. standard deviation) and

should include:

(1) Airflow rates through the inhalation equipment.

(2) Temperature and humidity of air.

(3) Actual (analytical or gravimetric) concentration in the

breathingzone.

(4) Nominal concentration (total amount of test substance fed into

the inhalation equipment divided by volume of air).

(5) Fiber and particle size distribution, and calculated mass median

aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and geometric standard deviation (GSD).

(6) Explanation as to why the desired chamber concentration and/

or fiber size could not be achieved (if applicable) and the efforts taken

to comply with this aspect of the guidelines.

(F) Test results—(1) Group animal data. Tabulation of toxic response data by species, strain, sex and exposure level for:

(A) Number of animals exposed.
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(B) Number of animals showing signs of toxicity.

(C) Number of animals dying.

(2) Individual animal data. Data should be presented as summary

(group mean) as well as for individual animals.

(A) Time of death during the study or whether animals survived to

termination.

(B) Time of observation of each abnormal sign and its subsequent

course.

(C) Body weight data.

(D) Feed and water consumption data, when collected.

(E) Results of ophthalmological examination, when performed.

(F) Results of hematological tests performed.

(G) Results of clinical chemistry tests performed.

(H) Results of urinalysis tests performed.

(I) Results of lung burden analysis.

(J) Results of BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) analysis.

(K) Necropsy findings including absolute/relative organ weight data.

(L) Detailed description of all histopathological findings.

(M) Statistical treatment of results where appropriate.

(N) Historical control data.

(f) Quality assurance. A system should be developed and maintained

to assure and document adequate performance of laboratory staff and

equipment. The study must be conducted in compliance with the GLP regulations as described by the Agency (40 CFR parts 160 and 792) and

the OECD Principles of GLP (ISBN 92–64–12367–9).

(g) References. The following references should be consulted for additional background information on this guideline.

(1) Dement, J.M. Overview: Workshop on Fiber Toxicology Research

Needs. Environmental Health Perspective 88:261–268 (1990).

(2) Harington, J.S. Fiber Carcinogenesis: Epidemiologic Observations

and the Stanton Hypothesis. J. National Cancer Institute 67:977–987

(1981).
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(3) International Union Against Cancer. Carcinogenicity Testing:

UICC Technical Report Series, Vol.2, Ed. I Berenblum. International

Union Against Cancer, Geneva (1969).

(4) ISTRP. International society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Proceedings Symposium on Synthetic Vitreous Fibers: Scientific and Public Policy Issues. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology

20:S1–S222 (1994).

(5) Leong, B.K.J. and Laskin, S. Number and Species of Experimental

Animals for Inhalation Carcinogenicity Studies. Paper presented at Conference on Target Organ Toxicity. Cincinnati, Ohio (September 1975).

(6) McClellan, R.O., Miller, F.J., Hestersberg, T.H., Warheit, D.B.,

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