Beauty and Vanity has a Price Tag
Danielle Blair
Jackie Hoekstra
English 1130-027
17 October 2014
Beauty and Vanity has a Price Tag Animal experiments cause extreme pain, suffering and distress and is forced upon these animals deliberately. There is ongoing societal debate about ethical issues of animal use in science. Peta puts things into perspective on their webpage by the following statement once made by Dr. Elias Zerhouni “We have moved away from studying human disease in humans. … We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included. … The problem is that [animal testing] hasn’t worked, and it’s time we stopped dancing around the problem. … We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans.” Dr. Elias Zerhouni. There are scientists who see the benefits of testing on animals, but there are also scientists who see that testing cosmetics on animals is not necessary when there are alternative methods. Animal experimentation for cosmetic testing is an example of how unclear the limits are to animal experiments and the need to further critically examine other fields of animal experimentations. Animal testing for cosmetics should be reduced because it’s unethical and inhumane. Despite new advancements in alternatives, some scientists still insist animal testing is necessary because it cheaper and easier than the available alternatives. The article “Cruel Beauty” claims that there are alternatives to animal testing such as skin tissue (4). According to a European article called “Cosmetics Industry Prepares for Test Ban” cosmetic organizations are contributing money towards tissue-research labs to present alternatives to cosmetic experiments (6). The article goes on to explain how in Europe the animal experimental ban in 2013 forced scientists to research ways to create human tissue by reconstructed collagen they call “Episkin” (6). “Cosmetics Industry Prepares for Test Ban” explains L’Oreal opened a lab in France to practice in manufacturing
Jackie Hoekstra
English 1130-027
17 October 2014
Beauty and Vanity has a Price Tag Animal experiments cause extreme pain, suffering and distress and is forced upon these animals deliberately. There is ongoing societal debate about ethical issues of animal use in science. Peta puts things into perspective on their webpage by the following statement once made by Dr. Elias Zerhouni “We have moved away from studying human disease in humans. … We all drank the Kool-Aid on that one, me included. … The problem is that [animal testing] hasn’t worked, and it’s time we stopped dancing around the problem. … We need to refocus and adapt new methodologies for use in humans to understand disease biology in humans.” Dr. Elias Zerhouni. There are scientists who see the benefits of testing on animals, but there are also scientists who see that testing cosmetics on animals is not necessary when there are alternative methods. Animal experimentation for cosmetic testing is an example of how unclear the limits are to animal experiments and the need to further critically examine other fields of animal experimentations. Animal testing for cosmetics should be reduced because it’s unethical and inhumane. Despite new advancements in alternatives, some scientists still insist animal testing is necessary because it cheaper and easier than the available alternatives. The article “Cruel Beauty” claims that there are alternatives to animal testing such as skin tissue (4). According to a European article called “Cosmetics Industry Prepares for Test Ban” cosmetic organizations are contributing money towards tissue-research labs to present alternatives to cosmetic experiments (6). The article goes on to explain how in Europe the animal experimental ban in 2013 forced scientists to research ways to create human tissue by reconstructed collagen they call “Episkin” (6). “Cosmetics Industry Prepares for Test Ban” explains L’Oreal opened a lab in France to practice in manufacturing
Cited: Abbott, Alison. “Animal Testing: More Than A Cosmetic Change.” Nature 438.7065 (2005): 144-146 Alterrnatives to Animal Testing. Peta Organization. 2014. Web. http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/alternatives-animal-testing/ “Cosmetics Industry Prepares For Test Ban.” TCE: The Chemical Engineer 839 (2011): 6 “Cruel Beauty.”America 204.19 (2011): 4. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. Ferdowsian, Hope R., and Nancy Beck. "Ethical And Scientific Considerations Regarding Animal Testing And Research." Plos ONE 6.9 (2011): 1-4. Academic Search Complete Kojima, H. “Trend On Alternative To Animal Testing.” International Journal Of Cosmetic Science 29.4 (2007):331 Kolar, Roman.”Animal Experimentation.” Science & Engineering Ethics 12.1 (2006): 111-122. Academic Search Complete