Quantitative Interpretation of Genetic Toxicity Dose-Response Data for Risk Assessment and Regulatory Decision-Making: Current Status and Emerging Priorities

Abstract

The screen-and-bin approach for interpretation of genotoxicity data is predicated on three false assumptions: that genotoxicants are rare, that genotoxicity dose–response functions do not contain a low-dose region mechanistically characterized by zero-order kinetics, and that genotoxicity is not a bona fide toxicological endpoint. Consequently, there is a need to develop and implement quantitative methods to interpret genotoxicity dose–response data for risk assessment and regulatory decision-making. Standardized methods to analyze dose–response data, and determine point-of-departure (PoD) metrics, have been established; the most robust PoD is the benchmark dose (BMD). However, there are no standards for regulatory interpretation of mutagenicity BMDs. Although 5–10% is often used as a critical effect size (CES) for BMD determination, values for genotoxicity endpoints have not been established. The use of BMDs to determine health-based guidance values (HBGVs) requires assessment factors (AFs) to account for interspecies differences and variability in human sensitivity. Default AFs used for other endpoints may not be appropriate for interpretation of in vivo mutagenicity BMDs. Analyses of published dose–response data showing the effects of compensatory pathway deficiency indicate that AFs for sensitivity differences should be in the range of 2–20. Additional analyses indicate that the AF to compensate for short treatment durations should be in the range of 5–15. Future work should use available data to empirically determine endpoint-specific CES values; similarly, to determine AF values for BMD adjustment. Future work should also evaluate the ability to use in vitro dose–response data for risk assessment, and the utility of probabilistic methods for determination of mutagenicity HBGVs. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:66–83, 2020. © 2019 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.