Above:
Many animals are used in scientific and medical research.
They often undergo cruel methods of testing and
suffer greatly as a result. Animal experimentation is both cruel and unnecessary and humans have no right to put innocent animals
through such torture. Scientists often don't benefit from testing
on animals as they are so different from us and react
differently to drugs. Results obtained from experimenting
on animals are unreliable.
There are numerous cases that highlight the absurdity of
assuming that humans and animals have a biology sufficiently
similar for experimentation to yield useful results. For
example: morphine calms humans but excites cats, cortisone
causes birth defects in mice but not in humans, penicillin
kills guiniea pigs and hamsters and aspirin poisons cats.
If the results of tests on animals had been relied upon
we would not have penicillin or digitalis (a drug used
by heart patients but which was withheld for a long time
because it was found to raise the blood pressure of dogs).
We would also be without chloroform (once a common
anaesthetic but not used initially because it was toxic
to dogs) and aspirin (which causes foetal deformities
in rats and is toxic to certain animals). Certain steroids,
adrenaline, insulin and some antibiotics are also toxic to
many animals but medically beneficial to humans.
Another example of how animals can't be relied on to
yield reliable results is the case of rats being used for cancer
research. On 25th February 1993, it was reported in the
age that using rats for cancer research may be pointless.
The gene repair systems of rats, it has been found, makes
them unusually susceptible to cancer and while it was once
thought that their responses parallelled our own, it now
appears that there are significant differences in 'the way
humans and rodents repair genes damaged by chemicals,
radiation, or other agents that mutate DNA.' (Age,
25th February 1993).
Above:
Not only are results obtained from animal testing unreliable,
but animal testing puts animals through a lot of unnecessary
suffering. Some tests that are commonly used include the Draize Eye Test, the LD50 and Skin Test for Toxicity. These tests are used in the general cosmetic industry and in the household
products industry.
Some information on the various tests used:
The Draize Eye Test
This test is used to test shampoos, weed-killers, pesticides,
household detergents and riot natural gases. The substances
are applied to the eyes of conscious rabbits in order to
test irritancy. Apart from the cruelty of this test,
a rabbit's eye is a bad model and there are major differences
between a rabbit's eye and a human eye.
The LD50
Rabbits, dogs, cats, mice and guinea pigs are used in the
LD50 test and it's used to test lipsticks, skin-care products
such as moisturisers and cleaners, shampoos and nail polish.
The LD50 test (Lethal Dose 50 percent) is administered by
introducing the ingredients under investigation into the
animal via the mouth or intravenously. The animal is fed up
to 50 percent of its body weight and the aim of the test
is to find the dose which will kill half the animal sample.
For the test to be valid statistically, a minimum of 50 animals
are required.
Skin Test for Toxicity
Rats are used in this test. Their fur is shaved and the
substance to be tested is applied thickly to the exposed skin.
The skin is frequently abraised (broken) to increase absorption.
Above:This unfortunate bunny had the bad luck to become part of a skin toxicity test. (Picture and caption taken from Animal Rights Resource Site)
How do we stop the use of animals in medical,
scientific and cosmetic-related research? Boycott the
companies that test on animals (buy products which
don't test on animals) and/or write to your local
paper about the issue. Or write to your local member of
parliament and suggest that animal experimentation should
be made illegal!! Also, many of the companies that
test on animals have e-mail addresses. Write to
them!
The following information was extracted from the PETA
website
(http://
www.envirolink.org/arrs/peta/) and tells you what
companies currently test on animals:
Why Are These Companies Included on the "Do Test" List?
The following companies manufacture products that ARE tested on
animals. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are presently observing
a moratorium on animal testing. Please encourage them to announce
a permanent ban. Listed in parentheses are either examples of
products manufactured by that company or, if applicable, its parent
company. Companies on this list may manufacture individual lines
of products without animal testing (e.g., Del Laboratories claims
its Naturistics and Natural Glow lines are not animal tested).
They have not, however, eliminated animal testing on their entire
line of cosmetics and household products. Similarly, companies
on this list may make some products, such as pharmaceuticals,
that are required by law to be tested on animals. However, the
reason for these companies' inclusion is not the required animal
testing that they conduct, but rather the animal testing of personal
care and household products that is not required by law.
What Can Be Done About Animal Tests Required by Law?
Although animal testing of pharmaceuticals and chemicals is still
mandated by law, the same arguments against using animals in cosmetics
testing are valid when applied to the pharmaceutical and chemical
industries. These industries are regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, respectively,
and animal tests are now required by law -- laws that were developed
haphazardly in the 1920s. We know that non-animal test methods
exist right now and that these tests are more accurate in predicting
toxicity than are crude, cruel tests on animals. It is the responsibility
of the companies that kill animals in order to bring their products
to market to convince the regulatory agencies that there is a
better way to determine product safety. Companies resist progress
because the crude nature of animal tests allow them to market
many products that might be determined too toxic if cell culture
tests were used. Let companies know how you feel about this.
Alberto-Culver Co. (Tresemmé, Sally Beauty Supply, Alberto VO5,
TCB Naturals)
2525 W. Armitage Ave., Melrose Park, IL 60160 °708-450-3000 °www.alberto.com
Allergan, Inc.
2525 Dupont Dr., P.O. Box 19534, Irvine, CA 92612 °714-752-4500
°800-347-4500 ° corpinfo@allergan.com
Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight)
469 N. Harrison St., Princeton, NJ 08543 °609-683-5900 °800-524-1328
° www.armhammer.com
Aziza (Chesebrough-Ponds)
33 Benedict Place, Greenwich, CT 06830 °203-661-2000 °800-243-5804
Bausch & Lomb (Curél, Soft Sense, Clear Choice)
1 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NY 14604-2701 °716-338-6000
° 800-344-8815 °www.bausch.com
Benckiser (Coty, Lancaster, Jovan)
237 Park Ave., 19th Fl., New York, NY 10017-3142 °212-850-2300
° attmail@cotyusa.com
Bic Corporation
500 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460 °203-783-2000
Block Drug Co., Inc. (Polident, Sensodyne, Tegrin, Lava, Carpet
Fresh)
257 Cornelison Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07302 °201-434-3000 °800-365-6500
Boyle-Midway (Reckitt & Colman)
2 Wickman Rd., Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5M5 Canada °416-255-2300
*Braun (Gillette Company)
400 Unicorn Clark Dr., Woburn, MA 01801 °800-272-8611° braun_usa@braun.de
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (Clairol, Ban Roll-On, Keri, Final Net)
345 Park Ave., New York, NY 10154-0037 °212-546-4000 °www.bms.com
Carter-Wallace (Arrid, Lady's Choice, Nair, Pearl Drops)
1345 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-0021 °212-339-5000
Chesebrough-Ponds (Fabergé, Cutex, Vaseline)
800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 °201-512-0094
Church & Dwight (Arm & Hammer)
469 N. Harrison St., Princeton, NJ 08543-5297 °609-683-5900 °800-524-1328
° www.armhammer.com
Clairol, Inc. (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
345 Park Ave., New York, NY 10154 °212-546-5000 °800-223-5800
°www.bms.com
Clorox (Pine-Sol, S.O.S., Tilex, ArmorAll)
1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 °510-271-7000 °800-227-1860 °
www.clorox.com
Colgate-Palmolive Co.
(Palmolive, Ajax, Fab, Speed Stick, Mennen, SoftSoap) 300 Park
Ave., New York, NY 10022 °212-310-2000 °800-221-4607 ° www.colgate.com
Coty (Benckiser)
237 Park Ave., 19th Fl., New York, NY 10017-3142 °212-850-2300
° attmail@cotyusa.com
Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble)
One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202 °513-983-1100
°800-543-1745 ° www.pg.com/info
Dana Perfumes (Alyssa Ashley)
635 Madison Ave., 5th Fl., New York, NY 10022-1009 °212-751-3700
°800-822-8547 °www.beautyspot.com
Del Laboratories (Flame Glow, Commerce Drug, Sally Hansen)
565 Broad Hollow Rd., Farmingdale, NY 11735 °516-293-7070 °800-645-9888
° www.dellabs.com
*Dial Corporation (Purex, Renuzit)
1850 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004 °602-207-1800 °800-528-0849
° www.dial.com
DowBrands (Glass Plus, Fantastik, Vivid)
P.O. Box 68511, Indianapolis, IN 46268 °317-873-7000 °www.dowclean.com
Drackett Products Co. (S.C. Johnson & Son)
1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403 °414-631-2000 °800-558-5252 °
www.scjohnsonwax.com
Ecolab, Inc.
370 N. Wabasha St., St. Paul, MN 55102-1390 °612-293-2233 °800-352-5326
° www.ecolab.com
Erno Laszlo
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902-6759 °203-363-5461
*Gillette Co. (Liquid Paper, Flair, Jafra, Braun, Duracell)
Prudential Tower Bldg., Boston, MA 02199 °617-421-7000 °800-872-7202
° braun_usa@braun.de
Givaudan-Roure
1775 Windsor Rd., Teaneck, NJ 07666 °201-833-2300
Helene Curtis Industries (Finesse, Unilever, Suave)
325 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610-4713 °312-661-0222 °www.unilever.com
Jhirmack (Playtex)
300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880 °203-341-4000
Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena)
1 Johnson & Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick, NJ 08933 °908-524-0400
° www.jnj.com
Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Kleenex, Scott Paper, Huggies)
P.O. Box 619100, Dallas, TX 75261-9100 °800-544-1847 °www.kimberly-clark.com
Lamaur
5601 E. River Rd., Fridley, MN 55432 °612-571-1234
L & F Products
One Philips Pkwy., Montvale, NJ 07645-1810 °201-573-5700
Lever Bros. (Unilever)
390 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022 °212-888-1260 °800-745-9696
°www.unilever.com
*Mary Kay Cosmetics
16251 N. Dallas Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75248 °972-687-6300 °800-201-1362
°www.marykay.com
Max Factor (Procter & Gamble)
One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202 °513-983-1100
°800-543-1745 ° www.pg.com/info
Mead
Courthouse Plaza N.E., Dayton, OH 45463 °513-222-6323 °www.mead.com
Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive)
E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07962 °201-631-9000 °www.colgate.com
Murphy-Phoenix Co. (Colgate-Palmolive)
P.O. Box 39670, Solon, OH 44139 °800-486-7627 °www.colgate.com
Neoteric Cosmetics
4880 Havana St., Denver, CO 80239-0019 °303-373-4860
Neutron Industries, Inc.
7107 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Phoenix, AZ 85021 °602-864-0090
Noxell (Procter & Gamble)
11050 York Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2098 °410-785-7300 °800-572-3232
° www.pg.com
Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble)
P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201 °800-543-1745 °www.pg.com
*Oral-B (Gillette Company)
1 Lagoon Dr., Redwood City, CA 94065-1561 °415-598-5000 °www.oralb.com
Pantene (Procter & Gamble)
Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202 °800-945-7768 °www.pg.com
Parfums International (White Shoulders)
1345 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10105 °212-261-1000
*Parker Pens (Gillette Company)
P.O. Box 5100, Janesville, WI 53547-5100 °608-755-7000 °braun_usa@braun.de
Perrigo
117 Water St., Allegan, MI 49010 °616-673-8451 °800-253-3606 °www.perrigo.com
Pfizer, Inc. (Bain de Soleil, Plax, Visine, Desitin, BenGay)
235 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017-5755 °212-573-2323 °www.pfizer.com
Physicians Formula Cosmetics (Pierre Fabré)
1055 W. Eighth St., Azusa, CA 91702 °818-334-3395
Playtex Products, Inc. (Banana Boat, Woolite, Jhirmack)
300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880 °203-341-4000
Procter & Gamble Co. (Crest, Tide, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Giorgio)
One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202 °513-983-1100
°800-543-1745 ° www.pg.com/info
Reckitt & Colman (Lysol, Mop & Glo)
1655 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07474-0945 °201-633-6700 °800-232-9665
Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble)
One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202 °513-983-1100
°800-543-1745 ° www.pg.com/info
Sally Hansen (Del Laboratories)
565 Broad Hollow Rd., Farmingdale, NY 11735 °516-293-7070 °800-645-9888
°www.dellabs.com
Sanofi (Yves Saint Laurent)
90 Park Ave., 24th Fl., New York, NY 10016 °212-907-2000
Schering-Plough (Coppertone)
1 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940-1000 °201-822-7000 °800-842-4090
°www.sch-plough.com
Schick (Warner-Lambert)
201 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, NJ 07950 °201-540-2000 °800-492-1555
° www.warner-lambert.com
S. C. Johnson Wax (Pledge, Drano, Windex, Glade)
1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403 °414-260-2000 °800-558-5252 °
www.scjohnsonwax.com
SmithKline Beecham
100 Beecham Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15205 °412-928-1000 °800-456-6670
°www.sb.com
SoftSoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive)
1107 Hazeltine Blvd., Suite 370, Chaska, MN 55318 °612-448-1118
°www.colgate.com
Sunshine Makers (Simple Green)
P.O. Box 2708, Huntington Beach, CA 92649 °714-840-1319 °800-228-0709
° www.simplegreen.com
Sun Star
600 Eagle Dr., Bensenville, IL 60106-1977 °800-821-5455
3M (Scotch, Post-It)
Center Bldg., 220-2E-02, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 °612-733-1110
°800-364-3577 °www.3m.com
Unilever (Lever Bros., Calvin Klein, Elizabeth Arden, Helene Curtis,
Diversey)
390 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022 °212-888-1260 °800-745-9696°
www.unilever.com
Vidal Sassoon (Procter & Gamble)
P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201 °800-543-7270 °www.pg.com
Warner-Lambert (Lubriderm, Listerine, Schick)
201 Tabor Rd., Morris Plains, NJ 07950-2693 °201-540-2000 °800-323-5379
° www.warner-lambert.com
Westwood Pharmaceutical
100 Forest Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213 °716-887-3400 °800-333-0950