Reproductive toxicology
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Reproductive toxicology · Jan 2009
Harmonization of terminology in developmental toxicology: the quest for a more precise description and a harmonized classification of fetal observations.
Harmonization of terminology in developmental toxicology is a prerequisite to ensure a better risk assessment of chemicals. As part of an international effort of the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) to harmonize terminology in developmental toxicology, workshops have taken place in Berlin since 1995. This publication reports the main outcomes of the Fifth and Sixth Berlin Workshops held in 2005 and 2007, respectively. ⋯ It was agreed that provision of additional information, including sub-location within the affected structure, more detailed description of the nature of the change, in conjunction with presentation of photographs wherever possible, and a grading for severity would make descriptive terms more precise, thereby reducing misclassifications. A better knowledge of the adversity and postnatal consequences of fetal observations was considered as the key issue for achieving a substantial reduction in the number of misclassifications and grey zone anomalies. The urgent need for additional research along this line as a prerequisite for a better risk assessment was emphasized by the participants.