Without information obtained from appropriate use of laboratory tests on animals, much vital scientific knowledge could only be derived from the study of human beings. Acid rain can turn a living forest into a stand of skeletal devastation. If acid rain does this to trees, how do we find out what it does to people? Guinea pigs, which model so well the respiratory effects of air pollution on people in urban areas, are helping us answer this question in laboratories today. Similar questions arise when we assess the maximum level of contaminants to be permitted in drinking water standards. Everything we drink, eat, and breathe can pose risks. Our first priority as a caring society is clear. We must ensure public health and protect our world.
For the time being, the use of some animals in safety testing is
not only ethical but scientifically necessary. Research on alternatives
must and will continue. However, we cannot yet completely rule
out the use of some tests on living organisms. These tests can
be reduced, refined, perhaps even replaced in the future. But
for now we must retain the right to conduct animal research when
it is an irreplaceable step in the scientific method, which is
essential to increase specific knowledge and to learn the truth.
Until new approaches have been proven scientifically acceptable,
there is no immediate alternative to animal tests.
Join Hands is a non-profit health and safety educational alliance.
For Information, contact:
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Telephone: 1-800-933-8228
