Every year, an estimated 26 million animals are
used in the United States for scientific and commercial testing. Dogs, fish,
mice, rabbits, … are used to develop medical treatments and to determine the toxicity
of medications and other biomedical, commercial and health care uses.
Testing cosmetics on animals is, in my opinion,
cruel and inhuman. We can all live without mascara, foundation, lipstick,… so
why should we let an animal suffer for our luxurious lifestyle?! Nowadays, many
alternative tests were developed without the use of animals. Human Skin Model
tests, Hen’s Egg Test Membrane and Slug Mucosal Irritation assays are examples
of such alternative developments. Additionally, the introduction of the 7th
Amendement Cosmetics Directive in Europe only led to a greater need for
alternatives because it prohibits the testing of cosmetics or cosmetic
ingredients on animals.
However, animal testing has contributed to a
big progress in understanding and treating conditions such as breast cancer,
brain injury, childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, malaria, multiple sclerosis,
tuberculosis, and many others. Animal research allows us to investigate the
effects of a new drug on the homeostasis, the interactions between different
cells and tissues and its absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
Unfortunately, replacing animal research by
validated alternatives is not that simple due to the difficult simulation of
physiological conditions. So the question we have to ask ourselves is: “Is it
worth it?”. Well, in this case my answer is yes. Animals do not have the
cognitive ability or moral judgment that humans do and they often make better research subjects than human
beings because of their shorter life cycles.
Animal testing is not a crime to me as long as there
is no unnecessary pain inflicted and there is a real possibility of benefit to
human beings. More information can be found by clicking on the URL-link below.
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