RATL: A Database of Reptile and Amphibian Toxicology Literature

Appendix 4: Descriptions of exposure route codes used in Tables 2, 3 and 4. Exposure route
assignments to studies used standard methodology classifications. See the
original reference for full details of study methodology.
Exposure
Route
Exposure Route Term Exposure Route Description
DERMAL Dermal exposure Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals by direct dermal application under
laboratory conditions. See paper for specific details pertaining to this study.
ENVIRON Environmental Exposure of contaminant(s) in external field surroundings as a source of
exposure
toxicity to animals. Numerous contaminants may be involved and the source or
concentration(s) may not be known. Direct exposure routes may include
dermal, inhalation, and ingestion. This classification includes studies of
environmental spills.
FETAX Frog Embryo In standard FETAX methodology, a range-finding and three replicate tests are
Teratogenesis Assay- performed on each test material. A control in which no test material has been
Xenopus (FETAX) added is used to provide 1) a measure of the acceptability of the test by
indicating the quality of embryos and the suitability of the FETAX solution,
test conditions and handling procedures, and 2) a basis for interpreting data
from other treatments. Each test consists of several different concentrations
of test material with two replicate dishes of each concentration. Each of the
three tests is conducted using embryos from a different male/female pair of
Xenopus laevis. A reference toxicant (6-aminonicotinamide) should be used as
a quality control measure. The 96 h LC50 and 96 h EC50 (malformation) are
determined by probit analysis and the TI (teratogenic index) is calculated by
dividing the LC50 by the EC50. Growth inhibition is determined by measuring
the head-tail length of each embryo and determining whether growth at a
particular concentration is significantly different from that of the control. Other
useful data can be collected (eg. pigmentation, locomotion and hatchability) to
expand the utility of the test.
IMMER Exposure through Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals in an aqueous solution in which they
immersion
are submerged. This methodology is often the most common form of
determining LC values under laboratory conditions.
INHAL Exposure through Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals is in gaseous form under laboratory
inhalation
conditions. Some dermal uptake may also occur under this conditions,
however primary source of uptake is reported to be inhalation.
INJECT Exposure through Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals in aqueous form through injection (i.e.
injection
subdermal, intraperitoneal) under laboratory conditions.
ORAL Oral dosing exposure Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals often in liquid form by gavage under
laboratory conditions.
PESTAPP Pesticide application Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals often in aqueous form sprayed in
surrounding field environment.
pH Exposure to altered pH Exposure of altered acidity of substrate or surrounding water to animals under
laboratory or field conditions (i.e. pH = 3.0).
pH+CONT Exposure to altered pH Exposure of a combination of altered acidity of substrate or surrounding water
in presence of and contaminant(s) to animals under laboratory or field conditions (eg. low pH
contaminant and aluminum).
RAD Exposure to radiation Exposure of ultraviolet radiation to animals under laboratory or field
conditions. A common laboratory study might include exposure to UV and
UV-B during various larval developmental stages.
SUBDERM Subdermal exposure to Exposure of contaminant(s) to animals, often in crystalline form, by surgically
contaminant placing it under the skin.
TISPREP Contaminant exposure Exposure of contaminant(s) to animal tissues following dissection. Common
to isolated tissue studies within this category include ion transport, neurological effects or
preparation
hematological status investigations.