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For chemicals produced in volumes of 10 to 100 tonnes:
Acute toxicity studies in mammals are conducted to measure a chemical’s capacity to cause harm or death with a single dose. Chemicals are administered to animals in extremely high doses via at least two of the following routes: • Oral –– chemicals are pumped directly into the animal’s stomach via a force-feeding tube or syringe. • Skin –– chemicals are painted onto the shaved and abraded skin on the animal’s back. • Inhalation –– animals are either confined in an inhalation chamber or restrained with a breathing apparatus fixed over their mouths. Acute toxicity studies inflict hideous suffering on animals, who may endure severe abdominal pain; diarrhea; bleeding from the nose, mouth and genitals; convulsions; seizures and paralysis before they are poisoned to death or killed by the experimenter. Acute toxicity studies in fish are a type of ‘ecotoxicity’ test conducted to measure a chemical’s effects on the environment and wildlife. Chemicals are pumped into the water of tanks holding the fish, who are exposed to the test chemical for several days. The number of fish who die each day is recorded, and the chemical concentration that kills 50 per cent of the fish is calculated. Acute toxicity studies inflict hideous suffering on animals, who may endure severe pain––as evidenced by visible physical and behavioural abnormalities––before they are ultimately poisoned to death. Skin irritation studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s capacity to cause reversible skin damage. In these studies, rabbits are restrained in stocks, the hair on their back is shaved off and a chemical is applied to the skin in a single dose. After four hours, the substance is removed, but the rabbits are kept restrained for several days while researchers examine their skin and score the extent of the damage that results. Animals in skin irritation studies suffer horribly as chemicals can eat through their skin, causing painful swelling, ulceration and skin lesions. No pain relief is normally provided. Eye irritation studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s capacity to cause reversible damage to the eye. In these studies, rabbits are restrained in stocks and a chemical is placed between the lower eyelid and the eyeball. The rabbits are kept in restraints and are observed at fixed intervals for up to several weeks while researchers examine their eyes and score the extent of the damage that results. Eye irritation studies are horrendously cruel, causing animals to endure the pain of chemicals eating through their eye, causing painful swelling, weeping and ulceration. No pain relief is normally provided. Skin sensitisation studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s potential to cause an allergic skin reaction. In these studies, the backs of guinea pigs or mice are shaved and an immune-triggering chemical is injected under the skin. Once an immune response develops, the animals are ‘challenged’ with the application of the test chemical to their shaved skin. Skin sensitisation studies can go on for several weeks and cause animals to endure the painful effects of skin swelling, cracking, ulceration and inflammation. Repeated dose toxicity studies expose animals to repeated low doses of chemicals for one to three months to measure the effects of multiple chemical exposures on organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and nervous system. Chemicals are usually force-fed to animals orally, although skin and inhalation routes are also used. These studies are typically conducted using two different species of animal, one rodent (rat, mouse, etc.) and one nonrodent (usually dogs). Repeated dose studies are highly stressful and cruel, as animals are subjected to frequent handling, restraint and inhumane force-feeding practices, in addition to suffering the toxic effects of the chemical under investigation. The animals can suffer excessive salivation, anaemia, muscle weakness, hair loss, internal organ damage, pilo-erection (hair standing on end), vomiting (in dogs), diarrhoea, coma and even death Genetic toxicity (mutagenicity) studies are conducted using a variety of test methods to measure a chemical’s capacity to induce mutations or other changes in the body’s genetic material. Chemicals are force-fed or injected into the abdominal cavities of rats, mice or hamsters. Samples of bone marrow and/or blood are taken at several time points following exposure to the chemical. Cells are harvested from the blood or bone marrow and analysed for genetic abnormalities. Genetic toxicity studies are highly stressful and cruel, as animals are subjected to frequent handling, restraint and inhumane force-feeding practices, in addition to suffering the toxic effects of the chemical under investigation. Reproductive toxicity studies in mammals are conducted to measure a chemical’s effects on reproductive organs and fertility. Such tests are based on a repeated dose toxicity study in rodents, during which animals are examined for changes in sexual behaviour, sperm and egg production and fertilisation, development in the uterus and after birth, and hormonal activity. At the conclusion of the study, the animals are killed and their reproductive organs are removed for study. Animals in reproductive toxicity studies suffer not only from the toxic effects of the chemical under investigation, but also as a result of frequent and often stressful handling, restraint and inhumane force-feeding practices. Developmental toxicity (teratogenicity) studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s effect on developing offspring during critical periods of growth. These tests are based on a repeated dose toxicity study in pregnant rodents and are sometimes carried out for extended periods to study several generations of offspring. Developmental toxicity studies are highly stressful and cruel, as animals are subjected to frequent handling, restraint and inhumane force-feeding practices, in addition to suffering the toxic effects of the chemical under investigation. Their offspring, if they survive, may suffer gross birth defects such as developmental abnormalities or debilitating physical deformities. Chronic toxicity studies in mammals are conducted to measure a chemical’s health effects following lifelong exposure. Large numbers of animals suffer and die in these chronic studies, which call for the use of two different animal species, one rodent (usually rats) and one nonrodent (dogs or primates). Animals are most often exposed to chemicals orally, through their food, although skin and inhalation routes are also used. Animals can suffer for years in chronic studies, enduring not only the toxic effects of the chemical under investigation, but also the stress and deprivation caused by what is for some species a lifetime of confinement in the barren laboratory environment. Chronic toxicity studies in fish are a type of ‘ecotoxicity’ tests conducted to measure a chemical’s effect on the environment and wildlife. Chemicals are pumped into the tanks holding the fish, who are exposed to the test substance for two to four weeks. The number of fish who die each day is recorded, and the chemical concentration that kills 50 per cent of the fish is calculated. Chronic toxicity studies inflict hideous suffering on animals, who may endure severe pain––as evidenced by visible physical and behavioural abnormalities––before they are ultimately poisoned to death. Carcinogenicity studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s cancer-causing potential following lifelong exposure. Carcinogenicity studies call for the use of both rats and mice and can kill more than 800 animals per test. Animals in these studies are exposed to toxic chemicals for their entire lives through their food, their skin or the air they breathe. Carcinogenicity studies can go on for up to five years, during which animals can endure extended suffering from chemical- poisoning as their bodies are overcome by tumours and cancerous growths. Organ-specific toxicity studies are conducted to measure a chemical’s capacity to damage specific organs, such as the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs, or organ systems, such as the nervous and immune systems. These studies usually use rodents, who may be exposed to chemicals through oral, skin or inhalation routes, or, in the case of developmental neurotoxicity <link to “DNT Factsheet.doc”> studies, via the mother while still in her womb. They are then observed for toxicity using a variety of methods, including behavioural tests, collection of bodily fluids, and post-mortem examination of tissue and organs. Animals in organ-specific toxicity studies suffer as a result of frequent and often stressful handling, restraint and inhumane force-feeding practices. Other effects that may be examined in toxicity studies include possible effects on the hormonal (endocrine) system. Click here for more information about the challenges associated with screening chemicals for endocrine disruption. <link to ED section of PETA’s StopAnimalTests.com site> Toxicity studies in birds, which include both dietary and reproductive toxicity, are forms of “terrestrial ecotoxicity” tests conducted to measure a chemical’s effect on the environment and wildlife. In dietary studies, birds such as ducks, quail and/or pigeons are fed a diet containing a test chemical at a range of concentrations for a period of five days. Beginning on day six, the birds are fed an uncontaminated diet, free of the test substance, for a minimum of three additional days. The number of birds who die each day is recorded, and the chemical concentration that kills 50 per cent of the birds is calculated. Dietary toxicity studies inflict hideous suffering on animals, who endure severe pain and distress before they are ultimately poisoned to death. In reproductive studies, birds such as ducks, quail and/or pigeons are fed a diet containing a test chemical in various concentrations for at least five months. Birds are artificially induced to lay eggs, which are then collected, artificially incubated and hatched. The offspring are kept alive and studied for two weeks. Mortality of adults, egg production, cracked eggs, eggshell thickness, viability, hatchability and effects on young birds are recorded. |
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