Why Animal Testing Is Unnecessary

Any time we happen to use a cosmetic product, we do so very confident that the chemicals in the composition of the cosmetic products are safe and shall not cause any harm to the user. What most people do not know is that for the cosmetic product to have been proved fit to be used by human beings, several experiments have been carried out. In most instances, animals are used to test cosmetic products. Human beings have been using animals in a variety of ways for decades mainly for food, transport, and as a companion (Baumans 64). In most recent times, the narrative has changed and the animals are being used for experimental research in such unnecessary ways. For instance, thousands of animals are being tested for cosmetic purposes. There have been numerous opinions on this topic, particularly concerning whether or not animal testing should be allowed in the United States for cosmetic purposes.

The use of animals in experiments has been subject to criticism as questions focus majorly on the ethical question of the man has any right to use animals in experiments. Very many animals die and others suffer just because of cosmetics experiments every passing year globally. Some of the results that are obtained after using animals in experiments cannot be reliably extrapolated to man and even after many animal experiments and clinical trials on humans, there have been reported cases of many side effects. Even after being tested on hundreds of animals the side effects still aren't the same. Every human body reacts differently to every chemical just like every animal body does as well. Scientists can do as many tests as they want but will never get the same results on every animal.

The necessity of some of these animal experiments such as cosmetics testing is still being questioned. Other innovative alternatives can be used to test cosmetics and are more humane, yield faster results, are less expensive, and are better placed to predict the outcomes of these cosmetic products to the people (Meigs, Smirnova, Rovida, Leist, & Hartung, 278). Often people don't realize the harm that is being done to animals just because brands and companies hide from people. Many brands hide these types of situations because they are scared that their products won’t be sold anymore and that’s very understandable however I believe a ban on using animals for experiments should be put in place in all countries to curb the inhumane manner animals are usually subjected to. There are many benefits gained from successful animal research. However, the pain, the suffering, and even at times death are not usually necessary as other alternatives can be used to test cosmetics. Just like animals are tested for cosmetic purposes because they are similar to humans animals also share feelings, emotions, and pain just like us humans do. However, people put that aside and just focus on how they “ help us” find out deadly chemicals and products.

Even back in history animal testing has always been questioned. The discovery of anesthetics and Darwin’s discovery of the similarities between humankind and animals just lead to an increased usage of animals in experiments. The development of microbiology, led to an increased usage of animals in experiments (Baumans 65). This was due to Koch's Postulates’ who stated that the pathogenicity of microorganisms could be proven successfully after infecting healthy animals (Vonaesch, Anderson, & Sansonetti 273). The development of biomedical disciplines such as pharmacology, toxicology, and immunology has led to an increased usage of animals in experiments especially in the 20th century (Franco 246). In the early 1980s, there was a decrease in the usage of animals in experiments due to strict legislation and public awareness on animal use in experiments. However, in the last few decades, the use of animals in experiments has increased majorly because of new development in genetically modified animals.

In the early 1990s, there was heightened discussion on the ban on using animals in cosmetic experiments. The ban was fully implemented in 2013 in the EU and also in Israel (Cheng, et al 12). In China, they are at a crossroads to shift the toxicity paradigm and explore other ways and means that shall promote the development of non-animal testing (Cheng, et al 12). There are at least 33 countries that have banned the use of animals in cosmetics experiments. Which is a great change compared to a couple of years ago. on the other hand, around 80% of countries globally are still allowing the usage of animals in experiments and even the sale of cosmetic products experimented on animals (Garner 7). More and more countries are lining up to do the same and ban the use of animals in experiments. Hopefully, in a couple of years, every country will ban animal testing for cosmetics and see all the harm that is being done to defenseless animals.

Using animals for cosmetics testing has been a huge topic of heated debate over the decades. About 65% of animals that are usually used for experiments are used in biomedical research (Meigs, Smirnova, Rovida, Leist, & Hartung 277). Animals’ tests are conducted on a variety of animals. Some of these animals include rats, rabbits, kittens, guinea pigs, mice, and dogs. There are many benefits gained from successful animal research. However, the pain, the suffering, and even at times death are not usually necessary as other alternatives can be used to test cosmetics.

When animals are used in cosmetics testing, their rights are usually violated as they have a basic right to very respectful treatment. When animals are reduced to mere tools for scientific experiments, this right is usually violated. Since people and animals are almost alike in many ways, as they both feel, think, and experience pain, animals should be treated with similar treatment as humans (Garner 7). When animals are subjected to these tests, they usually end up feeling pain, cause damages that are irreparable and at the same time, they are not usually given the option of choosing what they would want. Using animals for tests is usually morally wrong no matter how much the results might be beneficial to humans (Dunnuck, 2014). Their basic rights are usually infringed upon as risks cannot be transferable to those who might be advancing their research. Once humans take the responsibility of deciding the fate of animals in the research environment, their rights are usually taken away.

The pain and suffering the animals go through while subjecting them to research experiments is not usually worth any possible benefit to humans. Animal pain is usually defined by the American Veterinary Medical Association as a quite unpleasant experience that has an emotional experience that usually arises from some specific region where the potential tissue is being damaged (Dunnuck 1). Animals are believed to feel pain equally as humans do, and by using them for cosmetic research they are subjected to a painful experience and at times result in death. There are two most used toxicity tests. The DLA test and the LD50 test and are believed to inflict a lot of pain to the animals. DLA test, the product that is usually tested is usually placed in the eyes of the animal used in the experiment. The most commonly used animal is the rabbit. The animal is later on monitored closely as the damage on the cornea in the eye takes place as it is being monitored (Dunnuck 10). The test is usually very painful and causes blindness and death accompanies. This test has been criticized over time as it is usually unreliable and a needless waste of life. The LD50 is used to test the dosage of a substance that is necessary to cause death in a given time and to carry out this experiment, the animal is usually hooked up on tubes and they pump a large amount of the test product to the stomachs until the animal dies. Death may take days and this results in a lot of pain being experienced by the animal. The animal usually ends up suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, internal bleeding, and convulsions. Though these tests have been eliminated in some countries, animal’s subjection to pain and later death when being used for cosmetic testing is unnecessary.

On the other hand animal testing for cosmetics has helped humans in many ways. Animal testing sounds sad and harmful because that's exactly what it is and it's even shown on advertisements and videos, regardless of all that animal testing can be very positive for humans up to saving human lives. Cosmetic animal testing has help figure out if humans would get rashes for their skin or if an eyeshadow or liquid eyeliner would irritate human eyes. Scientists say that by testing on animals they can see visible changes, microscopic changes that would be difficult to do on tissue dishes. Tissue dishes are one of many other methods that could be used instead of animal testing. Scientists say that even though there are many other alternatives or methods to do product testing nothing will compare to animal testing because animals are the closes things to humans. Even though animal testing could cost millions of dollars some cosmetic brands are willing to spend for the safety of humans. Scientists say animal testing is not necessary but it is used for scientific understanding it also protects people from harmful products or chemicals to the skin/ body.

Animal cosmetic testing is unnecessary and should be eliminated. This is because it violates animals' rights, causes pain, suffering, and death. Other alternative ways can be used to test cosmetics and people should stop justifying making life better for themselves by torturing animals. All animals should be treated with a lot of dignity and respect and the right to decent treatment. Many homeless animals are treated less because they reproduce faster or because they aren't well known as house pets. However, in the end, I hope we all agree that animal testing for cosmetics should be banned from every country after reading and learning more about cosmetic animal testing. Learning how exactly it is that animal testing is done and how many innocent animals are harmed and even killed just to test out one product. Now imagine how many animals are being harmed if every day a new chemical, the product is being invented. Hopefully one day every animal is treated and respected like humans are on this planet.