Scientists continually seek better ways to assure the safety of new products. New advancements in scientific technology now allow researchers to measure effects of test substances in ways not thought possible only a few years ago. This progress is leading to new alternative methods that replace specific animal methods, reduce the number of animals needed in particular tests, or refine test procedures to minimize or eliminate any discomfort for the animals. There are many incentives for scientists to develop alternative tests. In some cases, they are faster, cheaper, or provide better information than the traditional animal methods. Even though they cannot completely replace all animal tests today, non-animal alternatives play an important role in product safety research. Cell and tissue culture methods, computer and mathematical models, use of chemical structure activity relationships, and new analytical methods in chemistry and biology are helping to replace or reduce animal use. The challenge to develop reliable non-animal methods remains a difficult one. Why can't current non-animal methods replace all animal tests now? First of all, scientists still don't know enough about the complex workings of a living being to reproduce certain effects outside the body in artificial environments such as cells growing in test tubes. Many safety questions, such as what happens when a chemical is absorbed internally, still require the study of complex interactions of inter related tissues and organs— events that for now can only be studied in a living, intact animal. (next page)
							Q Why do we need to know the effects of prolonged exposure to something we would normally use only once in a while? A We must be sure that ingredients and products known to be safe for occasional use by consumers will not be harmful to the workers who manufacture and handle these materials every day.