Running head: ANIMAL TESTING

Animal Testing: Literature Review

Gabrielle Velasquez
The University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

Animal testing has become largely debatable topic in society. Animal testing involves the use of
animals in order to test out new items that will be sold for commercial use, as well as using the
animals for research in the medical field. There are different opinions on this issues, each opinion
varies between each person, some people argue that animal testing is necessary for medical
advances and others argue that is wrong to subject these animals to cruel, inhumane torture.
Currently there are minor policies on animal testing, and different groups of people have
proposed new policies in order to either limit, or ban animal testing. The purpose of this
literature review is to understand the current issue of animal testing beginning with its origins
and background, and continuing on with the current policies regarding animal testing as well as
the policies that different people have proposed on the issue.

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Animal Testing: Literature Review

The use of animal testing has been considered essential in the advances that have been made
in mainly the medical field, but animal testing is not limited to just the use of animals for
medical research. These animals have also been used to test cosmetics, that are being sold for
commercial use, as well as other household items, in order to decide whether they are safe or not.
Animal testing has been a prevalent issue namely because of the moral standards people believe
in, these people also believe that the animals, like humans, have their own rights. While on the
other hand others believe that it is necessary for these animals to be tested on in order to make
more, necessary medical breakthroughs, where without the use of animals, certain vaccines that
are currently used, would not have been discovered, and without the first use of these animals the
surgical techniques, practiced on them, would have ended in disaster for people. There are
current policies in place that are specifically aimed at animal testing, but for some that has not
seemed to be enough, so some policies are being proposed. This paper is intended to give an
understanding of the current issue by asking these three questions:
1. What is the background and history of Animal Testing?
2. What are the current policies on Animal Testing?
3. What is the proposed policy on Animal Testing?
Animal testing has been established as a form of research in society beginning centuries before
the current time, currently there are policies established to limit the use of animal testing and
there are more policies being proposed to further limit the use of animals.

What is the History and Background on Animal Testing?

Animal testing is the practice of using animals as test subjects for drugs, cosmetic testing,
biomedical research and other forms of use as test subjects. Animal testing is not limited to just

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drug, cosmetic, or biomedical research, animal testing also includes research on the animal even
when a product is not tested on the animal. Animal testing has become an established part of
science, ranging from cosmetic testing to medical testing. It seems to have come about and just
been placed in modern society with no questions asked. The question that should be asked
though is, when did animal testing come about and how did it become a form of testing to begin
with.
Animal testing is not a recent form of research testing. Living animals have been used for
experimentation since the time of Aristotle in the year 384 BC, as well as Erasistratus in the year
304 BC. (Hajar, 2011) In the twelfth century, an Arab physician by the name of Ibn Zuhr,
introduced a new way for testing surgical procedures on animals before applying them to patients
that are human. (Hajar, 2011) Animals have not always been used as a form of testing. In ancient
Rome and Alexandria, dissections were performed on human criminals but there were
prohibitions against mutilations of the human body so there was no other choice but to rely on
animals. (ProCon, 2014) Since animal testing has been a primary form of science since the time
Aristotle was alive, many of the practices have not been questioned or objected, it was just an
accepted part of science.
It was not until the 19th century that people started to object animal testing. During this
time there was an increase in people adopting animals to keep as domestic pets. People in
England primarily fueled an interest in the anti-vivisection movement. Anti-vivisection
movement is focused on the opposition of performing operations on animals that are still alive
for experiments or scientific research. Queen Victoria was against animal testing early on; she
wanted to put a stop to the animal research practices. (ProCon, 2014) Within recent years, animal
protection and animal rights groups have severely criticized the use of animals for biomedical

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research. In order to make the practice more humane, several countries have passed laws on
animal research. In 1959, William Russell and Rex Burch published The Principles of Humane
Experimental Technique, the book had the Three Rs principle for using animals in research
humanely instead of cruelly. The Rs stand for Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement; they
were incorporated into the AWA and are the foundation to animal welfare laws, not just
nationally, but internationally. (ProCon, 2014) It is not just a one sided topic, like many other
topics there is always a debate.
There are many viewpoints on the Animal Testing subject. The people that are against
animal testing argue that nothing justifies the harm to animals not even the benefit to humans. On
the other hand, others argue that these tests on animals are necessary in order to advance medical
and biomedical knowledge. There arent just two sides to this issues, others believe that animals
are very different than humans therefore any results from the animals cannot be applied to
humans. (Hajar, 2011) Each side of the argument has valid points, for instance, using animals for
drug testing is important because without it, incidents such as the thalidomide incident in the late
1950s could occur again. In the late 1950s thalidomide was deemed a wonder drug, its many
uses were as a painkiller, as well as for insomnia, coughs, colds, headaches, and for pregnant
women it repressed morning sickness. Thousands of women took the drug and more than 10,000
children in 46 different countries were born with missing limbs or malformations. (Hajar, 2011)
It is also believed that eliminating animal testing as a whole would drastically set back the
development of essential medical devices, medicines, and treatment. On the other hand those
who do not believe in animal testing, argue that animal testing is cruel and inhumane, animals
used in experiments are subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation,
physical restraint for long periods, and much more. (ProCon, 2014) The people who oppose

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animal testing believe, the cruel treatment of these animals is not worth the product that comes
out of it.
There has been a long history of Animal testing, long before anyone alive could possibly
remember. There has been much controversy from people from all different walks of life, from
ordinary people to scientist, to royalty, each with their own opinion on the topic. Possibly
beginning before Aristotle, animal testing has been used in scientific research and it has led to
discoveries as well as controversy, yet for some people it has been effective and for others it has
not been worth it.
What is the Current Policy on Animal Testing?
The current policy on animal testing had been established under the Animal Welfare Act,
which was signed into law in 1966. Currently this is the only Federal law that regulates the
treatment of animals in research, exhibition, and transport, in the United States. (AWIC) Under
the Animal Welfare Act it requires the minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for
the use in research, being transported commercially, commercial sale, or exhibited in public.
(AWIC) Although it is the only Federal law that covers animals in research it only requires
minimal protection for certain species while it excludes other animals, like rats, mice, and birds
bred specifically for research, it excludes cold-blooded animals, as well as farmed animals that
are raised for food or used in agriculture research such as cows and pigs. (NEAVS) For the other
animals in labs that are covered by the Animal Welfare Act, such as dogs, cats, chimpanzees,
monkeys, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and other warm blooded animals, there are certain
minimal standards that must be met which include standards for housing, feeding, handling, vet
care, and for certain animals psychological well being. (NEAVS) This has led to some bias on

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animal care since only some animals are more protected under the Animal Welfare Act than
others.
There are different sides that are affected by this policy, which are the researchers as well
as the animals being tested on. Although it may seem as though these animals are not being
affected by this policy they indeed are. Through this policy, researchers are held to certain
standards of conducting research on these animals which affects how they are to conduct their
experiments as well as how they treat the animals. The Animal Welfare Act, also affects the
animals, although not all the animals, because it causes them to have minimal standards set for
their housing, handling, vet care and psychological well being for some, which in turn affects
their well being under the circumstances.
The different sides have different perceptions on how they are affected by this policy, the
researchers feel more confined and feel it is more of a hassle to have to abide by the policy.
Under the USDA those that are using regulated animals must be licensed or registered with the
USDA and the animals must be inspected yearly. All the regulations set in place by the Animal
Welfare Act, enforced by the USDA, affect these researchers because they are required to fulfill
the needs and care for the animals written in the federal act. It can only be assumed that because
of this act these animals that are covered by the Animal Welfare Act perceive they are affected in
a more positive way that if the act had not been signed into law. The animals have basic needs
taken care of where as if the law was not put in place they would not have. Therefore it can only
be assumed the animals perceive they are affected in a positive way.
What is the Proposed Policy on Animal Testing?

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Yes
No

Only in Medical
Research

I Don't Know

2
0
Is Animal testing is necessary?

The current issue of

animal testing has different perspectives as to the future of using animals for research testing, in
medicine as well as in cosmetic and consumer testing. Animal Testing is not just a national issue
limited to the United States. It is a global issue that is trying to be fixed. A survey was recently
conducted by asking a total of 25 people in front of Wal-Mart Supercenter three multiple choice
questions related to animal testing. The three questions asked were Do you think Animal testing
is necessary? Do you think the current use of animal testing is effective? and Do you think
animal testing should continue? The results of the survey can been seen in figure1. Based on the
results it can be concluded that many people believe animal testing to be necessary, and believe it
is currently effective. The third question was a bit more close in results with less of an
opinionated gap, it is mixed between no animal testing should not continue, yes it should, and it
should only continue for medical research purposes.(Animal testing, March 28,2015) Through
the years, the use of animals has declined, especially in European countries such as Great Britain
and Norway. There have been some proposed ideas for a change, one being countries granting
big sums of money to find alternative research methods, instead of using animals. There have
been new and improving technologies; that it seems as though there is a possibility for a greater

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decrease in the use of animals for testing. Another group, Cruelty-Free International, are trying to
get governments and regulators from around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of
animals for cosmetic and consumer products.
Both these proposed ideas are long term plans, finding alternatives is not a easy task,
many of the alternatives still include the use of animals, yet greatly reducing the amount. At the
German center of animal testing alternatives (ZEBET) they have surveyed years of industry
data on pesticides and they have concluded that if mice and rats prove sensitive to a chemical, it
does not have to undergo further tests on dogs. (Thomassen et al.) This greatly reduces the
amount of animals used because if it did not work on group of animals it was concluded that the
next group of animals, in this case dogs, did not have to be tested on. According to Thomassen
and Trolid and Arondsen and Gystol, this will reduce the use of dogs by about seventy percent.
In additions there are some places that are using bacteria instead of rats in tests as another
alternative. The alternative is seen to be as more effective and more accurate because the
hormones and vaccines are purer when they are made in cell cultures. Imaging is another
Figure 1: Animal Testing Survey Results

alternative that could be

used, it would reduce the amount of animals used but the equipment that is needed for it, is
expensive. With imaging there would not be a need to put tools into the animal or surgical
intervention. The researchers would use x-ray, and ultrasound, gamma cameras, and MRI
machine for mice; which is three times more expensive than it would be if it were for a human.
(Thomassen et al.) The use of imaging would cut back on the amount of animals used as well. By
implementing these plans, they would affect the issue of animal testing by reducing the number
of animals that are being tested on.
Another perspective on the future of animal testing is a complete ban on researching. Not

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to be confused with reducing the amount of animals used, but rather just eliminating the use of
animals all together. Cruelty-Free international is trying to convince governments to ban animal
testing, and respond to the publics opinion on animal testing. According to their website,
Cruelty Free International is mobilizing an international network of animal protection
organizations to run coordinated national and regional campaigns; they have written to
governments around the world to implement a ban on animal testing. Their approach will be
different in each country depending on what the situation is in each local area, because in some
countries there is not already animal welfare legislation in place, and in some countries animal
experiments provide a source of income. (Cruelty-free International) By implementing their plan
it would affect animal testing by completely eliminating the issue all together.
Animal testing is not anything new, it has been around for many years, it has been the
basis of many medical advances but it is still a debatable issue in society. It has been a big part in
the advances made by humans as well as keeping people safe from chemical harm in goods they
have bought. The policies that are put in place right now are not stopping animal testing, but
making sure the animals being tested on are being cared for in the process. The more science
advances, the fewer animals need to be used. It seems to be a vicious cycle because in order to
advance in science animals must be used, but in order to stop using animals as test subjects
science needs to advance.

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References

Animal Welfare Act. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from

http://awic.nal.usda.gov/government-and-professional-resources/federal-laws/animalwelfare-act
Cruelty Free International. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2015, from
http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/en/the-solution
Hajar, R. (2011). Animal Testing and Medicine. Heart Views: The Official Journal of the Gulf
Heart Association, 12(1), 42. doi:10.4103/1995-705X.81548
Laws and Regulations | Animal Use in Research. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://www.neavs.org/research/laws
ProCon.org. (2014, January 29). Animal Testing ProCon.org. Retrieved from http://animaltesting.procon.org/
Thomassen, M., Trolid, E., Arondsen, T., & Gystol, M. (n.d.). Animal Testing In Medical
Research Past, present and future. Contents. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from
http://www.academia.edu/4789501/Animal_Testing_In_Medical_Research_Past_present
_and_future._Contents