Deriving a no expected sensitization induction level for fragrance ingredients without animal testing: An integrated approach applied to specific case studies

Abstract

Cosmetic regulations prohibit animal testing for the purpose of safety assessment and recent registration, evaluation and authorization of chemicals guidance states that the local lymph node assay (LLNA) inmice shall only be conducted if in vitro data cannot give sufficient information for classification and labeling. However, Quantitative Risk Assessment for fragrance ingredients requires an NESIL (no expected sensitization induction level), a dose not expected to cause induction of skin sensitization in humans. In absence of human data, this is derived from the LLNA and it remains a key challenge for risk assessors to derive this value fromnonanimal data. Here we present a workflow using structural information, reactivity data and KeratinoSens results to predict an LLNA result as a point of departure. Specific additional tests (metabolic activation, complementary reactivity tests) are applied in selected cases depending on the chemical domain of amolecule. Finally, in vitro and in vivo data on close analogues are used to estimate uncertainty of the prediction in the specific chemical domain. This approach was applied to threemolecules which were subsequently tested in the LLNA and 22molecules with available and sometimes discordant human and LLNA data. Four additional case studies illustrate how this approach is being applied to recently developedmolecules in the absence of animal data. Estimation of uncertainty and how this can be applied to determine a final NESIL for risk assessment is discussed.We conclude that, in the data-rich domain of fragrance ingredients, sensitization risk assessment without animal testing is possible inmost cases by this integrated approach.