Animal testing in Europe has been banned for all cosmetics. 706 Words. The piece (opens in new tab)written by Janine Clayton, director of the NIH's Office of Research on Women's Health, and NIH Director Francis Collins states that "the overreliance on male animals and cells in preclinical research obscures key sex differences that could guide clinical studies." An animal testing argumentative essay always mentions the benefit of reducing the number of errors and fatal mistakes owing to a round of tests on animals. One valid alternative to using laboratory animals such as mice and rats is to either use advanced computer modeling and algorithms to forecast scenarios accurately or to use human cells and run tests on a microscopic cellular level. Animals are susceptible to many of the same health problems as humans cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. Animal Testing: Conclusion. Researchers have used mostly males due to the belief that hormone cycles impact data, an assumption now disproven. You might think the suffering of these animals at least yields accurate results, but it usually doesnt. In the article New Technologies Could Eliminate the Need for Animal Experimentation, Andrew Rowan writes that animals are used for testing drugs, One of the main problems with animal testing are the methods that are used. One of the most important reasons why we should avoid animal testing is that it can lead to a false sense of security. However, animal testing has come under fire in recent years for the way in which it is conducted and how the animals are treated during the test. All involve cellular experimentation on human tissue samples. That needs to change. There is also the argument that veterinary research relies on animal testing. Your email address will not be published. Animal testing is when different animal species are kept in laboratories and used for all manner of experiments in the name of biological research. Rodents are the most commonly used animal for testing in America, according to the National Association for Biomedical Research. An article published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has concluded that animal experimentation does not contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge in any way. Thats another whole ethical issue, said Carolyn Bresnahan, a junior public health and Spanish major. Even with added data from female animals, there is no reason to believe the research will be any more applicable to humans. Humans and animals are genetically, metabolically, and anatomically different. Most potential new drugs don't work when tested in people. On average, each drug requires approximately 5,000 animals merely to get through regulatory testing. Albert Sabin, developer of the oral polio vaccine, The history of cancer research has been a history of curing cancer in the mouse. Many of the pharmaceuticals end up being too dangerous and ineffective for human consumption. The first problem is that it can cause harm to the animals that are used in the testing. The results of computer modeling should be enough to justify a move toward trials with a selected group of humans. Learn More. Forests Under Threat: A Comprehensive Look at the Latest Deforestation Statistics, Puppy Mills vs. These are usually used for new medicines, vaccines, etc. Animal testing for cosmetics was banned in a total of forty-two countries across the globe, including the whole of Europe. Other tests have the animals (usually rabbits or other rodents) keep their eyes forcefully open as chemicals are dripped into their eyes. Mice and rats are the animals most frequently used for testing. After the side effects were discovered the FDA went back and researched the drug, and it was discovered that it causes defects across a wide range of species. Why is animal testing unreliable? Weve reached so many breakthroughs in technology that its time to stop using animals for our own curiosity. The worst part is that over 90% of animal tests fail human clinical trials, rendering animal use in testing pointless. Many animal experiments involve shaving the animals, exposing their shaved skin and eyes to chemicals, or attaching electrodes to their brain and spinal cords. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). But the fact remains, cosmetic testing is . 3 Pages. The United Kingdom is ranked third behind Austria and Switzerland as the country with the best animal protection laws. And I think it is horrible. The harmful use of animals in experiments is not only cruel but also often ineffective. The main reason why they are inaccurate is because of the huge differences between humans and animals. NY 10036. Crustacean Chronicles: A Deep Dive into the Fascinating World of the Crab, Pet Food Manufacturers and Who Rules the Roost in a Growing Market. Other experimental methods can be used to produce more reliable results without causing harm to any species. There have been instances where rabbits have had harmful chemicals rubbed onto their shaved skin and into their eyes. Text UGLY to 73822 to tell UGGs to choose vegan materials and stop supporting the mutilation and violent killing of sheep! Last month, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced in the journal Nature that it will ask grant applicants to use both male and female animals in biomedical research. Because animal tests are so unreliable, they make those human trials all the more risky. The benefits to animal testing are particularly noticeable in past years. A has one additional obstruction, however: a. Animals should have the right to not be taken away from there habitat to be in a cage tested and abused. People would make a huge fuss if an animal was mistreated in the simplest way, but yet, when it comes to animal testing they protest and say its for the better good of the human life. However, my personal belief is that as technology has advanced, there are many other options out there besides animal experimentation. However, animal experimentation does still happen for other regulatory testing requirements. However, it ignores the more basic flaw in research: the chasm between data from animal studies and successfully using that data to benefit humans. There are several other methods of In Vitro testing that replace live animal research. Research shows that animal studies are failing to lead to treatments and cures, and theyre wasting time and resources. This is to ensure that the drug works for oral and intravenous use. Heres how it works. This makes it more difficult to tell which products should be avoided and which ones should be used. Many people complain that animal testing is cruel, but we need to realize how beneficial animal testing really is. Its for [our] own psychological well being, to believe that animals dont matter.. Throughout thousands of years, animal testing has been proven to be beneficial for the human race. Animal rights campaigners and conscious beauty lovers everywhere rejoiced. Only by bringing the study of women to a focus equivalent to that of men, accompanied with leaving animal models behind, can the medical breakthroughs we all await be realized. Animal testing is cruel, unjust, and wasteful, and it needs to stop. And at each step theyre becoming more and more desensitized to the pain theyre inflicting on other living beings, said Alka Chandna, the chief of laboratory case management for the laboratory investigations department at PETA, an animal rights organization. In this circumstance many animal lovers are always worried about animals that are being killed due to animal testing. Most countries require any new pharmaceuticals to undergo rigorous animal testing and approval before being pushed forward for human trials. Let's take a look at some of them. (Op-Ed )]. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine concluded there wasno current need for chimpanzees in biomedical research. Animal testing helps in developing effective, safe, viable, qualitative, and less toxic drugs. WorldAnimalFoundation.org, Today's Deal: $300 Discount on Halo 2+ GPS Dog Collar. In the always-on-the-move, always-improving kind of age, you would think [Temple] would be looking into something else, Bresnahan said. Unreliable and ineffective animal tests mean consumer safety cannot be guaranteed. worldanimalfoundation.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Other Programs, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to the Partners. And such experiments don't even work. For example, according to FDA guidelines, a dog will not be able to detect and identify contaminants in food. Mice and rats specifically bred for testing purposes are not counted because they do not fall under the U.S. It is no longer needed, certainly not in todays age. In addition to body functions, animal 's DNA are different than a human beings. Australia's ban came into force last year. We have cured mice of cancer for decades and it simply didnt work in humans., Dr. There is little regulation or meaningful oversight of the labs in which animals are experimented on. Majority of the time animals are force-fed certain substances that make them grow sick over time. The real number is unknown and may be higher. Next time you meet someone whos vegan, keep a few basic things in mind. Yes And Someone is Paying Attention, Swimming with The Seahorse: Discover Their Mystical Charisma. Why Animal Testing is Unreliable. Dimming Lights: Are Fireflies Endangered? can be reached at monica.mellon@temple.edu Yes, there are several cruelty-free testing options, including the use of computer modeling and cell testing technology. Most animals are confined to tiny, barren cages. But, it is a fact that there are some issues that arise when using animal models. Christopher Austin, former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chemical Genomics Center, [M]ice are mice, and people are people. Some people say that animal testing is needed. Animal . Imprecise results from animal experiments may result in clinical trials of biologically faulty or even harmful substances, thereby exposing patients to unnecessary risk and wasting scarce research resources. It also mentions that the number of saved people's lives is enormous owing to the sacrificed lives of animals. Venues With Values: Restaurants That Have Switched to an All-Vegan Menu. And given that animals are living beings and capable of feeling pain, such testing is unethical. Animal research has been important in the development of many major medical advances. While it has done a wonderful job for us, it has only injured, killed and put an enormous amount of pain on animals. This includes research for curing a specific human disease but also testing the possible impact of certain chemicals and cosmetic products. Animals contribute to numerous treatments and cures that, in the end, save human lives. Students were able to remove the HIV virus from infected cells. The Humane Society states that animal testing is tests performed on live animals for basic biology, medicinal, safety, or health research. In addition to causing vast amounts of suffering for millions of animals around the world, it also fails on efficacy and economic viability. Alex shares his life with his wife (to-be), children and stepchildren, a herd of guinea pigs, and numerous tropical fish, frogs and snails. The term can be used to refer to many inner workings, such as those of a transistor, an engine, an algorithm, the human brain, or an institution or government. We estimate that the top 10 animal testing countries in the world are China (20.5 million) Japan (15.0 million), the United States (15.6 million), Canada (3.6 million), Australia (3.2 million), South Korea (3.1 million), the United Kingdom (2.6 million), Brazil (2.2 million), Germany (2.0 million) and France (1.9 . The strict variable settings used in laboratory experiments are a poor reflection of real-world interactions. Animal experimentation affects animal mentally as well as physically. Animal data is neither (e.g., toxicity testing in other species is aboutas likely as a coin tossin predicting the effect in humans). During testing, experimenters force animals to endure often barbaric treatments to see what the results will be. Your email address will not be published. What Does the Year of the Rabbit Hold for You? Who is the new host of Dancing with the Stars? It took several decades before Alex was able to leave the corporate world behind and embark on a real writing journey. Animal testing is an atrocity that is an unnecessary and dangerous ordeal to the subjects being tested on. Happy Lunar New Year! Similarly, heart and kidney transplant techniques, plus vital anti-rejection medication, were developed using animals. Sadly, one animal dies every eight seconds as a direct result of animal testing. Required fields are marked *. A 2004 study from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that 92 percent of drugs entering clinical trials following animal testing fail to be approved. (For more examples, NEAVSmaintains a blogon the latest developments.). But this has not resulted in cures or even significantly helped most patients., Dr. Interestingly enough, the toxicity of many chemicalsincluding cigarettes and the known carcinogen benzenehave not caused the same diseases in animals. Food and drug admin reports that 92 out of every 100 drugs that pass in animal tests fail in humans (Akhtar 1). instead of killing animals. We use cookies. Currently, 95% of animals used in experiments are not protected . Today, fields such as neuroscience, toxicity testing, and drug effectiveness can be completed without hurting another living being. Old habits die hard, and globally there is still . Animals are used as guinea pigs in experiments performed under a series of strict conditions designed to monitor specific responses. Millions of animals have died each year because of this testing, and it needs to be stopped. However, it's been estimated that at least 50 million animals are used in the U.S. every year. In 20092010, 3,700 people received major organ transplants. All chemicals for commercial or personal use must be tested so that their effect on the people and animals exposed to them is understood. The continued use of animals to test the effectiveness of medications and health interventions for humans is akin to using smoke signals instead of e-mail as a method of communication. Not only is animal testing unethical, it is unreliable as well. It is used to test cosmetics, to gain scientific knowledge, and for tests in schools. With more accurate and ethical practices available, Temple should be eager to adapt. 95% of animals used in experiments are not protected by the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which excludes birds, rats and mice bred for research, and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles and most fish. But animals suffer and die every day in laboratories with little or no protection from cruelty. They are kept in labs all their lives. Animal testing makes it possible for humans to develop new drugs and vaccines. In this paper, I will be making an argument about why animal testing is a good thing for humans to have for the sake of products. The two countries that perform the most cosmetic experiments on animals are China and the United States. Animal testing is a cruel and gruesome industry. The media, experimenters, and lobbying groups exaggerate the potential of animal studies in finding new cures. Using these models as a replacement for animal research will save the lives of countless scientific guinea pigs. We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included. Mice, rats, rabbits, and amphibians are the most commonly used animals for experiments. Many are already available and could be saving lives. But even with this ongoing cycle, the deaths that happen in it don 't get anywhere close to the amount of animals killed by us humans. This has lead humans to believe that they were safe and in some ways, still prolongs their current use. Richard Klausner, former director of the National Cancer Institute, Currently, nine out of ten experimental drugs fail in clinical studies because we cannot accurately predict how they will behave in people based on laboratory and animal studies., Michael O. Leavitt, former secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Patients have been too patient with basic research. Further to that, the UK has banned the import and selling of animal-tested cosmetics. These animals live their entire lives in cages away from their natural environment while suffering from pain and exhaustion from testing. Decent Essays. Animal testing has been used by scientists to test drugs and makeup products for many years. There is a growing body of scientific literature critically evaluating and questioning the validity of animal experimentation. The first reason why animal testing is unethical is that animal testing has a detrimental effect on the health and wellness of animals. Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways. There are more accurate methods of testing that dont involve animals at all. These tests can be done on cells grown in a petri dish, or even on cells in a test tube. 1. To bring more attention to this issue, NEAVS and its affiliate theAmerican Fund for Alternatives to Animal Research (AFAAR)awarded the Fellowship Grant for Alternatives to Animal Research in Women's Health and Sex Differences to a woman interested in developing, validating or using alternatives to animal methods in the investigation of women's health or sex differences. Ronald W. Davis, professor at Stanford University, [P]revention [of polio] was long delayed by the erroneous conception of the nature of the human disease based on misleading experimental models of the disease on monkeys., Dr. Along with the evidence, more and more experts are acknowledging the inherent limitations and flaws of using animals: "We have moved away from studying human disease in humans We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included The problem is that it hasn't worked, and it's time we stopped dancing around the problem We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans," said former NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni in the June 21, 2013NIH Record. Animal testing contributes to life-saving cures and treatments. 6. Do all drugs have to be tested on animals? Computer simulations of experimental procedures offer more reliable results than tests on rats and mice, according to the New York Times. There are three primary reasons why animal testing is imprudent and unreliable. The Humane Society states that animal testing is tests performed on live animals for basic biology, medicinal, safety, or health research. With consideration for animals and students, this outdated policy can be and should be removed. To perform this test, the researchers hook the animals up to tubes that pump huge amounts . Were working every day to end tests on animals, and our consistent victories speak for themselves. In a lot of areas, testing on animals has been completely replaced. To begin with, animal testing is not effective. There has been many studies that have shown inaccuracy and unsuccess in animal testing. The main benefit of animal testing is that it is the only way to be sure a drug or chemical is safe for use in humans. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has noted that 92 percent of all drugs that are shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials because they don't work or are dangerous. Capaldo contributed this article toLive Science'sExpert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. In addition, a further amendment was made in 2019 directed toward increasing the transparency of animal experiments. What Makes Animal Testing Imprudent and Unreliable. This drug was tested on animals, but all the necessary test were not ran to insure the safety of consumer. The term animal testing refers to procedures performed on living animals for purposes of research into basic biology and diseases assessing the effectiveness of new medicinal products, and testing the human health and/or environmental safety of consumer and industry products such as cosmetics, household cleaners, food additives, pharmaceuticals and industrial/agro-chemicals (About). Expert Quotes Prove Animal Testing Is Unreliable. Although there are numerous downsides to cosmetic testing on animals the benefits of these experiments cannot be ignored. The animal testing and experimentation industry are everywhere. To be reliable, it must be consistent. If you're a topical expert researcher, business leader, author or innovator and would like to contribute an op-ed piece, Should Animals Be Used in Laboratory Testing? Stay up to date on the latest vegan trends and get breaking animal rights news delivered straight to your inbox! Elias Zerhouni, former director of the National Institutes of Health, [Researchers] are so ingrained in trying to cure mice that they forget we are trying to cure humans., Dr. If humans' closest relative humans and chimpanzees share up to 98 percent of their genes is not useful for human research, why would any other species be? These biological microchips allow scientists to recreate human biometric processes and allow for accurate experimentation and testing. More needs to be done to ensure the level of animal care is increased as a stop-gap measure before animals are fully removed from testing programs. Here are just a few examples: The list goes on and on (visit theNew England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) websitefor more). [Should Animals Be Used in Laboratory Testing? It takes 12,000 animals and fifty different experiments to pass just one single pesticide. That means we subject . New technology could replace controversial live animal testing. The practice of animal testing is a very debatable topic. Using animals in labs could discourage them from pursuing certain majors. In 2015 the UK also introduced a complete ban on the use of animal experiments for any household products such as bleach or laundry detergent. It could usher in a far more reliable period of medical progress. There are genetic differences between humans and animals that will always render the results of such experiments moot. Human trials are then undertaken to verify that the . Despite being passionate about biological studies, Chandna chose not to pursue a biology major because of unethical animal testing policies in undergraduate departments. Thankfully, the popularity of cruelty-free products that use other methods of safety testing has been rising with . We take our responsibility for the ethical treatment of animals in medical research very seriously. Each year, more than 100 million animalsincluding mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, fish, and birdsare killed in U.S. laboratories for biology lessons, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation, and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing. In order to address this disgusting and ultimately ineffective abuse of animals, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) should expand and strengthen their protections of testing animals. Animal testing is still the main method of testing for human pharmaceutical drugs and cosmetics, and can cause cancer. Poor animal care is not good science. The animals are then subjected to further monitoring and testing before almost always being killed, so that researchers can look at the effects on their tissues and organs. Excluding species research, there are two core areas where animal testing and animal research occur. Another reason why animal experimentation is unethical because it is unreliable. One compelling reason to prove animal testing is atrocious is that animal testing is unreliable and ineffective. The Forever Against Animal Testing campaign is about something important and simplethere's no need to use animals to test cosmetic products. The animal tests provide data on efficacy and safety. Animal testing is a test used to study the effects of a chemical or a drug on animals. Sometimes it can make them lose their hair, hearing, or go ravid. They have been kept in labs, poked, prodded at, observed, forced to inhale, eat, and wear substances that have killed them. Killing off helpless animals for our own use? While the Animal Welfare Act offers some protection, it turns a blind eye toward laboratory experimentation. The truth is, animal testing is not always a reliable method of predicting what kind of products are safe to use.