Animal Testing Essays (646 words) - Animal Testing, Toxicology

Animal Testing annon Every year, millions of animals suffer and die in painful tests to determine the safety of cosmetics. Substances such as eye shadow and soap are tested on rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and other animals, despite the fact that the test results dont help prevent or treat human illness or injury. Cosmetics are not required to be tested on animals and since non-animal alternatives exist, its hard to understand why some companies still continue to conduct these tests. Cosmetic companies kill millions of animals every year to try to make a profit. According to the companies that perform these tests, they are done to establish the safety of a product and the ingredients. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which regulates cosmetic products, does not require animal testing. Some of the tests used on animals are eye irritancy tests, acute toxicity tests, and skin irritancy tests. In eye irritancy tests, a liquid, flake, granule, or powdered substance is dropped into the eyes of a group of albino rabbits. The animals are often immobilized in stocks from which only their heads protrude. They usually receive no anesthesia during the tests. After placing the substance into the rabbits eyes, lab technicians record the damage to the eye tissue at specific intervals over an average period of 72 hours. The tests sometimes last seven to eighteen days. Reactions to the substances include swollen eyelids, ulceration, bleeding, swollen irises massive deterioration, and blindness. During the tests, rabbits eyelids are usually held open with clips, because of this, many animals try to break their necks as they try to escape. Acute toxicity tests, commonly called lethal dose or poisoning tests, determine the amount of a substance that will kill a percentage, even up to one-hundred percent, of a group of test animals. In these tests, a substance is forced by tube into the animals stomach or through holes cut in their throats. Experimenters observe the animals reactions which can include convulsions, labored breathing, malnutrition, skin eruptions, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth. The test was developed in 1927 and the testing continues until at least fifty percent of the animals die (usually takes 2-4 weeks). Like eye irritancy tests, lethal dose tests are unreliable and have too many variables to have a constant result. Skin irritancy tests are conducted on rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals. The process involves placing chemicals on the animals raw, shaved skin and covering the skin with adhesive plaster. The animals are immobilized in restraining devices to prevent them from struggling. Meanwhile, laboratory workers apply the chemicals which burn into the animals skin. Alternatives to cosmetic testing are less expensive and generally more reliable to perform. Animals have different biological systems than humans therefore the tests cant be as accurate as the current tests. Some alternatives include cell cultures, tissue cultures, corneas from eye banks, and sophisticated computer and mathematical models. Companies can also devise a formula using ingredients already proven safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Most cruelty-free companies use a combination of methods to ensure the safety of a product. Lobbying by animal welfare groups has resulted in federal, state, and local legislation severely restricting animal experimentation. For example, under the U.S. Animal welfare act, all animals used in biomedical research must be bought from vendors licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA inspects laboratories where animals are used and enforces federal laws regarding treatment and care of the animals. Biomedical scientists have also taken action to prevent the abuse of the animals, mostly because abused animals may not provide reliable data. The American Physiological Society, the National Institutes of Health, and many other scientific organizations have joined to lay down guidelines for the use and treatment of experimental animals. Now, there are also many universities with animal welfare committees. In the United States survey by the American Medical Association, it was found that 75 percent of Americans are against using animals in cosmetic testing. Hundreds of companies have responded by switching to animal-friendly test methods. To help put an end to animal testing, people can stop buying products that were tested on animals. You can also call and write to these companies, or write to your congressional representative about the alternatives that can be used.

A Guide to Valentines Day in Japan

A Guide to Valentine's Day in Japan Do you have any plans for Valentines Day? Is there a special way of spending this time in your culture? Learn how the day of love is celebrated in Japanese culture.   Gift-Giving In Japan, it is only the women who give presents to men. This is done because women are considered to be too shy to express their love. Though it might not  be true especially in  modern times, Valentines Day was thought to be a great opportunity to let women express their feelings. Chocolates Women typically give chocolates to men on Valentines Day. While chocolates are not necessarily the customary  gift  to give, this is a custom that smart chocolate companies have spread to boost their sales. This tactic  has been very successful. Now, chocolate companies in Japan sell more than half of their annual sales during the week before Valentines Day. Men are supposed to return gifts to women on a day called White Day (March 14th). This holiday is a Japanese creation. Giri-Choko But dont get too excited when you get chocolates from Japanese girls! They might be giri-choko (obligation chocolate). Women give chocolates not only to their loved ones. While a true love chocolate is called honmei-choko, giri-choko is the chocolate given to men such as bosses, colleagues or male friends that women have no romantic interest in. In these cases, the chocolates are given just for friendship or gratitude. The concept of giri is very Japanese. It is a mutual obligation that the Japanese follow when dealing with other people. If someone does you a favor, then you feel obligated to do something for that person. Valentines Cards and Expressions Unlike the West, sending Valentines cards is not common in Japan. Also, the phrase happy valentines is not widely used. On another note, happy birthday and happy new year are common phrases. In such cases, happy ~ is translated as ~ omedetou 㠁Šã‚ Ã£  §Ã£  ¨Ã£ â€ . The Color Red Which color do you think is the color of love? In Japan, many people would probably say it is red. Heart shapes are usually in red and red roses are also romantic gifts.   How do the Japanese see the color of red? How do they use it in their culture? Read  Japanese Conception of Red  to  learn the meaning behind the color red in Japanese culture and how it is used in society.