Do animals have lives?

It is estimated that over 150,000 animals undergo cosmetic testing which causes them sufferings even to the point of fatality (Humane Society International). These animals primarily include rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and hamsters. Though cosmetic testing is not carried out on larger animals like dogs and monkeys, these animals are still used to test the effects of certain other chemicals. The animal tests for the purpose of discovering new and more feasible ingredients for cosmetics typically include eye and skin tests for irritation wherein the subject animal’s skin is shaved off and the chemical ingredients are applied, or the chemicals are directly dripped into their eyes (PETA). These experiments typically last for several weeks or months so as to study the effects of the chemicals upon prolonged usage.

The experiments also include the widely condemned “lethal dose” tests wherein the animals are administered the test chemicals in substantially massive quantities with a motive of determining the dose that would lead to death (Humane Society International). Whatsoever is the test, the procedures cause significant pain and suffering including permanent disabilities and even death. The test-animals, if alive, are often left with bleeding skin, convulsions, organ damage, and internal bleeding. On a serious note, no pain relief is provided at the end of the procedure. Rather the test animals are usually asphyxiated or decapitated to death.

The use of animals for the testing of cosmetics is not only apparently cruel but also ineffective and pointless. It is important to understand that the anatomy of animals is quite different than that of humans. Consequently, animals do not exhibit the symptoms of most heart diseases, several types of cancers, HIV, Schizophrenia, or Parkinson’s disease, unlike humans (Cruelty Free International). Hence, it may rightly be concluded that the ingredients that are supposed to work on animals may not necessarily work on humans. Thus animal testing for cosmetics is not only wasting the lives of the innocent animals but also our time and money. Additionally, due to the efforts getting wasted on ineffective experimentation, effective treatments are mistakenly being discarded. Animal testing is, hence, pointless and not backed up by scientific evidence.

The cosmetic companies do have a choice not to test on animals. However, as the companies wish to tout their products as having new and innovative ingredients, such testing seems to continue. It must be noted that these innovative ingredients do not have any safety data on record, and generating this data would imply further animal testing, despite the availability of a plethora of non-animal tests. The non-animal tests haven’t yet become a priority. However, the companies can still stick to one of the existing non-animal tests if they plan to use the already existing cosmetic ingredients. Another reason why such testing continues is convention. The animal tests are conventional, more popular, and familiar, despite the inherent flaws.

Whatever the reasons are for the advocacy of animal testing of cosmetic ingredients, the same can never be justified. Some companies argue that they go for animal testing as they sell in China and the country's norms require them to do so (PETA). However, it must be noted that the companies are selling in China out of their own choice and can abstain from doing so until the country plans on amending the rules. As a responsible human, one can contribute by buying only cruelty-free products and not supporting the products that use new ingredients derived out of animal testing.

References

“About Cosmetics Animal Testing.”

Humane Society International, 3 May 2019, https://www. hsi.org/news-media/about_cosmetics_animal_testing/

Cruelty Free International, https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/arguments-against-animal-testing.

“The Truth about Animals Used for Experimentation.” PETA, 22 June 2010, https://www.peta. org/ issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-101/.