Proposal for a new OECD guideline for the testing of chemicals on adult honey bees (<i>Apis mellifera</i> L.) in a 10 day chronic feeding test in the laboratory and results of the recent ring test 2014
Abstract
Background - Even though the evaluation of potential chronic oral effects on adult honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) is an integral part of the risk assessment according to e.g. the EC Regulation 1107/2009 and the EFSA Guidance Document, (EFSA 2013), there is no validated guideline available for this test system, yet. To address this new requirement and to develop a new test guideline an international ring test group was founded and a ring test was carried out in summer 2014. The ring test was carried out on the basis of a test protocol, which followed the recommendation for the proposed guideline.
Results - A validity criterion for the control mortality of ≤ 15 % was met for the untreated control group in all tests and laboratories within the first run. However, for the solvent group this validity criterion could not be met in 7 out of 17 labs. In the reference item treatment group clear doseresponse correlation could be observed with the tested concentration levels and the mean LC50 and LDD50 values could be calculated, as well as the NOEC and NOEDD levels.
Conclusion - The results gained in these tests indicate the suitability and reproducibility of the described test method which could serve as a basis for an official test guideline. However, the use of acetone as solvent at the tested concentration level is still questioned.
Keywords: chronic toxicity, honey bee, laboratory test
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