Factors considered in using birds for evaluating endocrine-disrupting chemicals

Documented effects on fish and wildlife populations, coupled with evidence from human poisonings, epidemiology, and experimental toxicology, led to the formation of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program within the US Environmental Protection Agency. The main objectives of the program are to validate and implement the screens and tests that have been proposed for evaluating possible endocrine-disrupting activity of chemicals. An avian two-generation test is one of the recommended higher tier tests currently undergoing prevalidation. The advantages and disadvantages of the two species of quail considered as candidates, the northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), are described as well as the basis for final selection of the Japanese quail. Among the numerous considerations necessary for ultimately optimizing a two-generation test method using birds, the following key factors are discussed: the number of birds used in the test, when to begin exposure of the P generation, selection and exposure of the F1 generation, and endpoints.