TOXB Mammalian and Avian Toxicity

(a message field)

The TOXB field is displayed in records but is not searchable and contains the following text:

MAMMALIAN AND AVIAN TOXICITY (USE CODE ZTOB).

Its purpose is to act as a record section delimiter. The Mammalian and Avian Toxicity superfield (ZTOB) is associated with this message field.

Studies on mammalian species are carried out to determine the potential toxicity of substances to humans. Avian species are studied primarily to assess the environmental impact on the ecosystem, however data from avian studies are also used for assessing human toxicity. This is specifically applied to pesticides, with neurotoxicology studies.

Procedures involve undertaking a series of established exposure studies on a particular substance using specific routes, oral, inhalation, dermal or injection for variable durations. Exposure durations include acute or single exposure to a given concentration of substance. Sub-acute or sub-chronic exposure involves repeat doses increasing in concentration over an intermediate time period, up to 4 weeks for sub-acute and 90 day/13 week (in rodents) or 1 year (in dogs) for sub-chronic studies. Finally chronic/long-term studies involve exposure to specific concentrations of chemical for a duration of 18 months-2 years. A variety of species is used in toxicity testing, most commonly rodents (rats, mice, hamsters) and rabbits, but tests can also be carried out on monkeys, domestic animals and birds, but rarely on wild animals which can be no less susceptible to toxic substances, e.g. pesticides.