Chronic Toxicity Testing

Chronic toxicity testing refers to tests that are carried out throughout a significant portion of the test species’ life cycle or, in certain situations, over multiple generations. Chronic toxicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, and reproduction are the most relevant tests of this category. Chronic toxicity studies identify a wide range of harmful effects and establish safety margins for chemical control. A rat or a mouse strain is commonly employed in sub-chronic studies, and the tests are done for 2.0 2.5 years or 1.5 2.0 years, respectively. A non-rodent animal (e.g., dog), a nonhuman ape, or a tiny carnivore (e.g., ferret) are used less frequently. Chronic toxicity testing can be given by food, drinking water, gavage, or inhalation, with the first method being the most prevalent.