Product and cosmetics testing
Every year, hundreds of thousands of animals suffer and die in unnecessary experiments to test household products, toiletries and cosmetics. Companies motivated by profit test products such as soap, shampoo, washing-up liquid, glue, paint, industrial chemicals and even food additives, on animals.
These substances are rubbed into their skin, dripped into their eyes, forced into their stomachs, injected, or administered as a gas in a sealed chamber. Common tests include:
- Repeated Dose Toxicity
A chemical is given to animals over and over again, to see whether it harms them. It may be pumped into their stomachs, or injected into them or the animals may be forced to inhale it. This test can last a few days or several months. At the end of the test, the animals will be killed and their organs studied. - Reproductive Toxicity
Chemicals are forced into animals to see if they harm their reproductive systems or their young. Animals may be poisoned for months or years in order to examine the effects in their offspring. Some animals will be given high doses; others, low doses. But all animals will be killed at the end of the test. - Toxicokinetics
Chemicals are given to animals at varying doses and their whole-body reaction is watched. Blood samples are regularly taken to examine the effects of the chemical. This type of test is often used in conjunction with one of the other tests.
