Los métodos alternativos en el estudio de la seguridad de cosméticos / Alternative methods in the study of the safety of cosmetics

El Reglamento 1223/2009 establece las normas que deben cumplir todos los productos cosméticos comercializados en Europa, con objeto de velar por el funcionamiento del mercado interior y lograr un elevado nivel de protección de la salud humana garantizando el uso de métodos alternativos que no impliquen la utilización de animales. El Laboratorio Europeo de Referencia para las Alternativas a la Experimentación con Animales (EURL-EURL- ECVAM) es el laboratorio de referencia en Europa encargado de validar los métodos alternativos. Posteriormente pueden ser homologados por la Organización de Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OCDE). Por otro lado, el Comité Científico de Seguridad de los Consumidores (SCCS) asesora a la Comisión sobre todos los temas relacionados con la seguridad de los cosméticos. En esta revisión se detalla una relación de métodos alternativos necesarios para evaluar la seguridad de los ingredientes cosméticos así como los métodos usados y sus limitaciones (AU)

Regulation 1223/2009 apply to all cosmetic products marketed in Europe in order to ensure the internal market and achieve a high level of protection of human health by ensuring the use of alternative methods not involving the use of animals. The European Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL- EURL-ECVAM) is the European reference laboratory responsible for validating alternative methods. They can also be approved by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In addition, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) advises the EU Commission on all issues related to cosmetic safety. In this review, alternative methods needed to assess the safety of cosmetic ingredients and the methods used and their limitations are outlined (AU)

Basis for the toxicological evaluation of engineered nanomaterials / Bases para la evaluación toxicológica de los nanomateriales manufacturados

The increasing annual production of nanomaterials enhances the human and environmental exposure, as well as the possible impact on public concern. In order to regulate the production, international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Comission through the REACH regulation have established some measures to assess its health and environmental safety. This review tries to analyze these proposed measures according to the standard test used in toxicology, the different classification of nanomaterials and the main mechanisms of toxicity known for nanomaterials. Resulting from this analysis, it is considered convenient to continue the development of specific tests for nanomaterial evaluation, as the measures established by the organizations of reference are not enough to establish standard basis for testing nanomaterials. This is mainly due to the huge diversity of manufactured nanomaterials and the importance of its handling, techniques and experimental systems chosen in the toxicity results (AU)

El aumento de producción anual de nanomateriales eleva la exposición humana y ambiental, y tiene un posible impacto en la opinión pública. Con el fin de reglamentar esta producción, organizaciones internacionales como la Organización para la Cooperación y Desarrollo Económico (OECD) y la Comisión Europea a través de la reglamentación REACH han establecido algunas medidas para evaluar la seguridad para la salud y el medio ambiente de los nanomateriales. Esta revisión intenta analizar las medidas propuestas por estas instituciones de acuerdo con las pruebas estándar usadas en toxicología, las distintas clasificaciones de los nanomateriales y los principales mecanismos de toxicidad conocidos de los nanomateriales. Como resultado de este análisis se cree conveniente continuar desarrollando tests específicos para la evaluación de nanomateriales, ya que las medidas establecidas por las organizaciones de referencia no son suficientes para conseguir unas bases estándares para testar nanomateriales. En gran parte esto es debido a la gran diversidad de nanomateriales existentes y la importancia de la manipulación, técnicas y sistemas experimentales escogidos en los resultados de toxicidad (AU)

Ecotoxicological impact of MSW landfills: assessment of teratogenic effects by means of an adapted FETAX assay.

The introduction of chemical products into the environment can cause long-term effects on the ecosystems. Increasing efforts are being made to determine the extent of contamination in particularly affected areas using diverse methods to assess the ecotoxicological impact. We used a modified Frog Embrio Toxicity Assay-Xenopus method to determine the extent of toxicological load in different sample soils obtained near three municipal solid waste landfills in Catalonia (Spain). The results show that the Garraf landfill facility produces more embryotoxic damage to the surroundings, than the others ones: Can Mata landfill and Montferrer-Castellbó landfill. The aim of this work is to demonstrate how different management of complex sources of contamination as the controlled dumping sites can modulate the presence of toxics in the environment and their effects and through this, help determine the safer way to treat these wastes. To this effect some conceptual modifications have been made on the established American Society for Testing and Materials protocol. The validity of the new model, both as to model of calculation as to protocol, has been demonstrated in three different sites with complex sources of contamination.

MDMA (ecstasy) delays pubertal development and alters sperm quality after developmental exposure in the rat.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA or "ecstasy" is consumed mainly by young population at childbearing age. Therefore, there may be a risk of exposure of some pregnant women. The effects of the developmental exposure to MDMA on the sexual development and long-term sexual behaviour/fertility were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats. MDMA was administered subcutaneously at 0 (control), 0.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg to female rats once a day, three consecutive days a week during 10 weeks, including gestation and lactation. The male offspring was evaluated for sexual maturation and mated with untreated sexually receptive females to evaluate the mating and pregnancy rates. Hormonal, haematological, biochemical, histological, genotoxicological and testicular and sperm parameters were also evaluated. A significant higher incidence of DNA damage in sperm and interstitial oedema in testes was found. There was also a significant and dose-related decrease in sperm count and a significant decrease in sperm motility at all doses. A significant delay in preputial separation onset in all treated groups was observed. This study reports by the first time an alteration of spermatogenesis after in utero and lactation MDMA exposure in the rat.