Feb 01 2012
Final thoughts on animal testing
Today we discussed a few more factors that affect toxicity (see previous post), like route of exposure, persistence, and solubility. In particular, we made note of POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) like dioxin, PCBs, and DDT. Substances like these don’t break down in water quickly, and so may persist in the environment for years. Once inside organisms, they can bioaccumulate in fatty tissues (and eventually lead to biomagnification at higher trophic levels). Here is a clever video clip about biomagnification:
We also spent time discussing the complications of LD50 tests-some of them are mentioned in your lab notebook.
Our test subjects
Then, we spent a little time discussing animal testing, watching a few short videos to stimulate thought/discussion.
*If those videos on monkeys and spiders (wink) piqued your interest (or if you were absent), here are some other sources you might investigate:
For an in-depth overview (oxymoron?), try Wikipedia. Has some good data/graphs on which animals are used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testing
Here is a statement from our Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on animal testing:
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductTesting/ucm072268.htm
The European Union has agressively fought animal testing:
http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Products-Markets/EU-timetables-end-of-animal-testing
Here is a very pro-animal testing story from a British paper:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2006/mar/04/businessofresearch.research
Animal Testing 101 from PETA:
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-101.aspx
How do you feel?
