The occurrence of hormetic dose responses in the toxicological literature, the hormesis database: an overview

Journal Article · Tue Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2005 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2004.06.023· OSTI ID:20634847

Calabrese, Edward J ^[1]; Blain, Robyn ^[1]

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1. Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 (United States)

A relational retrieval database has been developed compiling toxicological studies assessing the occurrence of hormetic dose responses and their quantitative characteristics. This database permits an evaluation of these studies over numerous parameters, including study design and dose-response features and physical/chemical properties of the agents. The database contains approximately 5600 dose-response relationships satisfying evaluative criteria for hormesis across over approximately 900 agents from a broadly diversified spectrum of chemical classes and physical agents. The assessment reveals that hormetic dose-response relationships occur in males and females of numerous animal models in all principal age groups as well as across species displaying a broad range of differential susceptibilities to toxic agents. The biological models are extensive, including plants, viruses, bacteria, fungi, insects, fish, birds, rodents, and primates, including humans. The spectrum of endpoints displaying hormetic dose responses is also broad being inclusive of growth, longevity, numerous metabolic parameters, disease incidences (including cancer), various performance endpoints such as cognitive functions, immune responses among others. Quantitative features of the hormetic dose response reveal that the vast majority of cases display a maximum stimulatory response less than two-fold greater than the control while the width of the stimulatory response is typically less than 100-fold in dose range immediately contiguous with the toxicological NO(A)EL. The database also contains a quantitative evaluation component that differentiates among the various dose responses concerning the strength of the evidence supporting a hormetic conclusion based on study design features, magnitude of the stimulatory response, statistical significance, and reproducibility of findings.

• OSTI ID: 20634847
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 202; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AGE GROUPS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BIRDS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EVALUATION
FUNGI
INSECTS
NEOPLASMS
PRIMATES
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
SPECTRA
VIRUSES