The LD50 test is a system created to test the toxicity of substances, by using a control group of animals. LD 50 stands for lethal dose at 50%, so if out of a group 100 animals 50 die then the substance is considered toxic. The down side is that humans have a different metabolisms to the average lab animal ( rats, mice etc..) so the results of this sort of test cannot be guaranteed . An example is what might be toxic to an animal might have little to no effect on a human and vice versa. This test can only ever give us a general idea of the toxicity levels of certain substances and not a fool proof result. The sad truth is that there is no safe way to find out and someone or something will have to die for us to
Every year 100 million mice, 241,000 bunnies, 125,000 monkeys, 75,000 dogs, and 22,000 cats are killed from animal testing, according to
The author emphasizes in biological difference between human beings and animals meaning drugs safe for animals might not be safe for humans. It argues that the FDA should not mandate animal testing and should look to the alternative methods for evidence that supports drug approval. Author suggests many alternative methods other then animal testing that can make drugs more efficient and safe for human use, consequently saving animals from experimental cruelty which provides excellent quotations for the research paper.
do not work like they were intended and the homeostasis in the body is effected,
All drugs have dangers due to certain chemicals and substances. Because of animal testing, researchers have found another alternative to testing on humans.
Many chemicals are healthy for humans but harmful for animals for example aspirin is used as a painkiller for humans but fatal and painful for specific animals other examples are like Butazolidin (Phenylbutazone), Oraflex Opren (Benoxaprofen) and others…
Before putting this to effect, the drug had to be tested to see possible drastic side
This test is medically important because it’s used for measuring certain hormone levels such as HCG in the pregnancy test, thyroid hormones, detecting dust and food allergies, detection of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines. Also to measuring antibodies which are produced in auto-immune conditions such as Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Forced chemical exposure in toxicity testing, which can include force feeding, forced inhalation, injection into the abdomen, muscle, etc.
be used as they could interfere with the testing, so animals may have to undergo
All subjects must be in good health on the day of the experiment and should be excluded if they have suffered from cardiovascular, renal, metabolic or respiratory illnesses,
diseases they test the dog on is the Glycogen Disease. In 2013, about 74,000 dogs were used in
Even if the chemical is shown promising for helping the animals it does not automatically mean that it would be safe for humans.
important test of an individuals physical health since unhealthy levels can lead to heart attacks,
In this test the chemical being tested if force fed to rats or mice in small amounts until the dosage is in excess. This is continued until at least 50% of the test subjects die. Although the test rodent may not die right away, it may experience seizures and internal damage. This test is considered to be the most cruel of the tests and can only determine how much of a chemical substance is needed to kill a small animal not a human being.
However, sometimes, in some cases, it is possible to develop a new way of conducting a test involving few animals. They are as following: