Table 2.

Examples of promising effect-based in vitro tests and chemicals they respond to (ISO: International Organization for Standardization; DIN: Deutsches Institut für Normung; German Institute for Standardization).

Effect	In vitro Test	Responsive to	Standard Protocol/Reference
Aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor (in-) activation	Recombinant cell based assays, e.g., H4IIE-luc, AhR-CAFLUX, DR-CALUX®	Dioxins, coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)	[21] BioDetection Systems BV, Amsterdam, NL
			[28] (US EPA, Method 4435, 2007)
			[29]
(Anti-) Estrogenicity	(anti-) Yeast estrogen screen (YES)	Natural and synthetic estrogens, bisphenol A, nonylphenol, phthalates (anti), and others.	[23]
	Cell-based reporter gene assays, such as T47D. Luc, T47D-KBluc, ER CALUX®		[30]
			[31]
			[21] BioDetection Systems BV, Amsterdam, NL
	Cell proliferation assay (MCF-7, E-screen)		[32]
(Anti-) Androgenicity	(anti-) yeast androgen screen (YAS)	Natural and synthetic androgens, e.g., androstanedione	[33]
	Cell-based reporter gene assays, such as AR-CALUX®		[21] BioDetection Systems BV, Amsterdam, NL
Thyroid hormone disruption	Transthyretin (TTR)-binding assay	Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), PCBs, and other halogenated phenols, pesticides	[34]
	Cell-based reporter gene assays, such as TR CALUX®		[21] BioDetection Systems BV, Amsterdam, NL
	Cell proliferation assay (T-Screen)		[35]
Genotoxicity/DNA damage	Ames assay	Heavy metals, pesticides, PAHs and others	ISO 16240, 2005, DIN 38415-3, 1999
	UmuC-assay		ISO13829, 2000
	Micronucleus assay		ISO 21427-2, 2006
Neurotoxicity	Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase	Organophosphate/carbamate insecticides	DIN 38415-1
			[36]
Inhibition of Photosynthesis	Combined algae test	Herbicides	[37]
Cytotoxicity	Microtox (luminescent bacteria) assay	Unspecific	ISO 11348-3
			[37]
	Cell viability assays such as MTT or neutral red staining	Unspecific	[38]
			[39]