Terrestrial Ecotoxicology Studies

Avian toxicity studies are a standard requirement for plant protection products where wild birds may be exposed to the active substance or the product itself such as: drinking water, over-sprayed food items, residues in fish and earthworms (bioaccumulation), or by ingestion of coated seeds, granules, or slug-bait pellets. Other chemicals may also require assessments of avian toxicity, in particular biocides, with a risk of environmental exposure to wild birds.

The most common avian species used for this purpose are Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), used mainly for USA EPA registrations, and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), used for EU and the rest of the world. Other avian species can be required for laboratory assessment of risks to wild birds, such as passerines (canary, zebra finch, etc.) or waterfowl (mallard duck) depending on the specific registration and the regulatory authority decisions for an application. Other avian testing requirements can include chickens, turkeys, or pigeons for specialist objectives.

Our quail facilities fully meet the EU requirements for housing of experimental avian species including extensive environmental enrichment to ensure animal health.

Acute testing in honeybees and bumblebees is considered by regulatory authorities, such as EFSA and the USA EPA, to be fully acceptable for the identification of an intrinsic toxicity for test items as a key lower tier test which will be used in an overall assessment on pollinator effects.

Bumblebee Studies
Charles River has implemented bumblebee testing as part of our expanding portfolio, for both contact and oral exposure (OECD 246 and 247). Commonly, these tests are combined into a single GLP study, involving bumblebees from at least three different colonies for each study.

Honeybee Studies
We also offer studies in adult worker honeybees with continual exposure to test items, to evaluate potential effects of prolonged exposures. Chemicals that raise a concern for pollinator toxicity will usually require further higher-tier testing, in field or semi-field studies. In addition, a variety of plant models, including Phacelia, are available for assessing which metabolites of a chemical can be translocated into pollen and nectar. We also offer GLP multi-site studies determining the magnitude of pesticide residues in honey.

Another routine regulatory requirement is to identify products that may harm non-target invertebrates living on plants or in soil. The most common plant-dwelling invertebrates studied are Parasitic Wasp (Aphidius rhopalosiphi) and Predatory Mite (Typhlodromus pyri). Tests with these species are available in both basic and extended test form, with reproduction endpoints included. These tests are now supplemented with the aged-residue testing as a third-tier method.

Our scientists also have extensive experience in other soil assays, such as the earthworm (Eisenia fetida) acute and reproductive toxicity assays (OECD 207 and 222) and the Collembola (Folsomia candida) reproductivity assay (OECD 232), and the Soil Predatory Mite assay (Hypoaspis aculeifer) (OECD 226). The Carbon Transformation (OECD 217) and Nitrogen Transformation (OECD 216) tests for soil microorganisms are also available.

In addition to these long-standing assays, we’ve recently implemented the Soil Predatory Mite assay (Hypoaspis aculeifer) (OECD 226).

During application to target plants, non-target plants or their seeds may be exposed by spray-drift or other accidental exposure. Regulators require testing on a range of non-target plants covering a range of taxonomic diverse species for seedling emergence (OECD 208) and/or vegetative vigor (OECD 227) or OCSPP 850.4100 for USA registrations.