Validation of a new protocol for a zebrafish MEFL (malformation or embryo-fetal lethality) test method that conforms to the ICH S5 (R3) guideline.

Detecting the toxic effects of chemicals on reproduction and development without using mammalian animal models is crucial in the exploitation of pharmaceuticals for human use. Zebrafish are a promising animal model for investigating pharmacological effects and toxicity during vertebrate development. Several studies have suggested the use of zebrafish embryos for the assessment of malformations or embryo-fetal lethality (MEFL).

Predicting changes in aquatic toxicity of chemicals resulting from solvent or dispersant use as vehicle.

The influence of two vehicles (N,N-dimethylformamide [DMF] as solvent and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil [HCO-40] as a dispersant) on the acute toxicity of eight hydrophobic chemicals with a non-specific mode of action to Daphnia magna was investigated according to the OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals, No. 202. An increased 48-h EC50 value for D.

Chemical fate and changes in mutagenic activity of antibiotics nitrofurazone and furazolidone during aqueous chlorination.

Reactions of nitrofuran antibiotics (nitrofurazone (NFZ) and frazolidone (FZD)) with hypochlorite in aqueous solution were investigated under the conditions that simulate wastewater disinfection. The chlorination byproducts were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. At the levels of 5 microM, NFZ reacted rapidly with free chlorine in neutral pH (7.

[Material labeling of soft plastic toys and plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride products].

We investigated the labeling and content of plasticizers of soft plastic toys. First, we investigated material labeling in 96 products purchased in fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Among these products, 43% of those purchased in fiscal 2000 and 68% of those purchased in fiscal 2001 were labeled.

[Estimation of daily oral exposure to phthalates derived from soft polyvinyl chloride baby toys].

Daily oral exposure of babies to phthalate was estimated on the basis of the mouthing time of infants and the oral concentration of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) released from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toy specimens. Total mouthing time, including the use of pacifiers, ranged widely from 11.4 min to 351.

A simple and reproducible testing method for dialkyl phthalate migration from polyvinyl chloride products into saliva simulant.

We describe a method of mechanical agitation to determine rates of dialkyl phthalate migration from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products into saliva simulant. The method consists of rotary shaking of a sample with 30 mL of saliva simulant (pH 7.0) at 35 degrees C in a 50 mL glass tube at 300 rpm for 15 min, then measuring the amount of dialkyl phthalate in the saliva simulant by HPLC with a UV detector.

Simultaneous determination of phthalate di- and monoesters in poly(vinylchloride) products and human saliva by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method using selected ion monitoring (SIM) is described for the simultaneous determination of phthalate di- and monoesters in poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) products. The method consists of the following four procedures; (1). liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate from the acidified aqueous homogenates of the PVC products, (2).