Ethical Dilemmas and the Protection of Public Health

Animal testing, of course, presents its own set of ethical dilanmas. In an effort to address concerns about the suffering of animals in laboratory tests, federal guidelines mandate that test animals be cared for in an ethical manner. Occasionally, 

Essentials of Toxic Chemical Risk Science and Society 

Animal toxicity testing is described in detail in Chapter 5. The results of animal toxicity testing form the basis of human health risk assessments (Chapter 8). In addition to human health, there is also growing concern with the effects of toxic chanicals on fish, wildlife, and plants and on the ecosystems that they—and ultimately we as humans— depend upon for our lives and livelihoods. The dose-effect relationship is investigated directly in several species that can be maintained in the laboratory, for example, rainbow trout, fathead minnows, and ring-necked pheasant. Results may be extrapolated to other species and used to support ecological risk assessments (Chapter 9). 

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