Cortes 1

Cristina Cortes

Professor Malcolm Campbell

English 1104

March 24th, 2018 Commented [OT1]: Day-month-year , I messed up on

this too lol

Looks to Die For

Some associate cosmetic products with strictly makeup which is not the case, cosmetic Commented [OT2]: Read this out loud—doesn’t flow right.

products include simple household items such as shampoo, beauty related products and lotions.

The consumers who buy these products that are fairly affordable and easily in reach to the public Commented [OT3]: , that

do not know the actions and processes that take place to create these products. These products, Commented [OT4]: Public,
Commented [OT5]: In order to
used every day by the public are put through a series of test that involve the use of innocuous Commented [OT6]: Are used
Commented [OT7]: tests
animals in exchange to for those to feel and look beautiful. Approximately 100,000-200,000

animals suffer and die just for cosmetic testing alone. These animals include mice, rats, guinea Commented [OT8]: omg! That’s so sad. Also, please put
your source
pigs, hamsters, and rabbits. The animals used have chemicals forced into their eyes, down their

throat and onto shaves skin to test the reaction of the product for humans “well-being”. Commented [OT9]: what is “shaves”

The Human Society International, a global animal protection organization, discusses how

even though companies have a choice about whether to test on animal products or not,

companies still choose to test on animals because companies want to test new ingredients that do

not have existing safety data. Meaning these ingredients have not been declared safe to put on Commented [OT10]: source?

the market yet so to do so scientist have to test the products before releasing it to the public. So

why don’t scientist use the other available methods to replace animal testing? Even though many

of the test requirements have non-animal tests available, not all have these available Commented [OT11]: All of what?
 Cortes 2

requirements causing new and more animal testing to take place. Developing new tests takes Commented [OT12]: *cause, however I would suggest
using the word “allow”
time so before these new non-animal test can be developed animal tests are still performed. Commented [OT13]: , animal tests are still performed.

What animal tests are carried out for cosmetics?

Humane Society International, explains the many test used and which animals are tested

on for the many different kinds of test. For example, Draize eye test, used most commonly by

cosmetic companies to evaluate irritation caused by the lotions, shampoos, and other beauty

related products . These chemicals are dripped into the animals’ eyes often causing blindness, Commented [OT14]: Include source/ in-text citation

redness, swelling, discharge, hemorrhaging and more. This test is commonly performed on

rabbits which are then killed after the experiment is over. Skin sensitization test, test for allergic Commented [OT15]: who

reactions on the skin and often performed on guinea pigs and mice. The test substance is applied Commented [OT16]: this is an incomplete sentence. What
are you referring to as a skin sensitization test?
to the surface of the skin or injected under the skin of a guinea pig and applied to the ear of a

mouse. Acute Oral toxicity is when the test substance is forced down a mouse’s throat using a

syringe. Animals may experience convulsions, bleeding from the mouth, seizures, paralysis, and Commented [OT17]: I would suggest a proper Segway into
introducing all these animal cosmetic tests. Just listing them
abruptly doesn’t get your point across well.
ultimately, death. “Determines the amount of a substance that causes half of the exposed animals

to die within 14 days of exposure when the substance is swallowed” (Humane Society

International). Commented [OT18]: Awesome!

The few tests used listed above are still commonly used to test new products on the Commented [OT19]: Either “used” or “listed above” I feel
that “listed above” is the better option
market, most of the animals either die from the chemical injected into them or are killed at the Commented [OT20]: Delete.
Commented [OT21]: Try; “The few tests listed above are
end of the experiment. Pain relief is also not provided to the animals because it could possibly commonly used to this day. Unfortunately, most of the
animals…”
interfere with the test results. These tests still take place because cosmetic companies want to test Commented [OT22]: Source

new products that are not listed safe unless tested on first. If companies stuck to the same

products that have already been tested and considered safe for the public than animal testing
Commented [OT23]: Is this your opinion or a proven fact?
If it’s a fact, please provide a source. If your opinion,
wouldn’t be practiced on as frequently and wouldn’t be as common today. rephrase so the reader realizes this is coming from you.
 Cortes 3

New Models Replacing Animal Testing

Gregory Mone, Harvard graduate and author of “New Models in Cosmetics Replacing

Animal Testing”, an article that discusses how new models produced by the European Commented [OT24]: Wrote an

Commission on Research will eventually replace animal testing. As of last year, the European

Union has banned any use of animal testing to test the safety of beauty related products. Gregory

Mone discusses how scientists say, “Animal-based tests take too long and are too expensive, they

say, often requiring several years and millions of dollars or more to carry out”. The physiological

difference between humans and animals is drastic and can limit the validity of the results. Which

is why “European Commission on Research & Innovation, launched a $68-million research

initiative to develop lab technologies and computational models capable of predicting the

toxicity of chemicals in humans” Mone states. Commented [OT25]: I would suggest not using a direct
quote to explain your point. Answer your question, then
back it up with a quote for evidence.
Even though there is a demand and rush for these new models, biotechnology companies

say it will take up to five more years develop these new technologies. Cosmetics or beauty

related products present a challenge since cosmetics products generally designed to cling to the

surface, can still seep inside the skin and possibly travel through the blood stream. Mark Cronin, Commented [OT26]: No comma needed

a computational toxicologist at Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K says “In the near Commented [OT27]: Nice introduction of your source!

future, one of the big challenges will be understanding exposure,” (qtd. in Mone). One of the

models that is being developed is a virtual model of the liver which is the main detoxifying organ

in the human body. The model, still in its early stages will show how the liver would respond

when it is exposed to a known toxic compound. Experts of the Safety Evaluation Ultimately

Replacing Animal Testing (SEURAT) program say the research is progressing faster than they

expected and that virtual work is the future of testing. Commented [OT28]: Source?
 Cortes 4

Alternatives to Animal Testing: In Vitro

Since many people are now becoming aware of the cruelty of animal testing and how it is

generally inapplicable to humans, scientists have now researched and moved on to use different

methods that can study disease and test products in replace of animals. Some of the methods

used or in vitro methods and in silico methods, in vitro means performed or taking place in a test Commented [OT29]: Try; “some of the methods used
include..”
tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism. These studies are performed with Commented [OT30]: . In vitro

microorganisms, cells, and biological molecules outside their biological context. PETA, the

largest animal rights organization in the world, discusses how in vitro testing better predicts the

human situation by using actual human cells rather than using an animal. “Harvard’s Wyss Commented [OT31]: Where does PETA discuss this?
Source the article
Institute has created “organs-on-chips” that contain human cells grown in a state-of-the-art

system to mimic the structure and function of human organs and organ systems.” The chips will

be used to replace animal testing for disease research, drug testing, and toxicity testing. These

chips have been shown to be more accurate than animal testing has ever been.

In vitro testing (cell-based tests) can be used to test the safety of drugs and new

ingredients companies want to use for their products. Cyprotex, an Evotec Company, specialize

in in silico and in vitro ADME-Tox developed an in vitro method that assesses the potential of a

substance to cause a skin allergy in humans. This test would replace guinea pigs and mice that

would have had to have the substance applied to their shaved skin or forced down their ears to Commented [OT32]: Would have needed the substance to
be applied
determine an allergic response. “MatTek’s EpiDerm™ is also being used to replace rabbits in

painful, prolonged experiments that have traditionally been used to evaluate chemicals for their

ability to corrode or irritate the skin.” (PETA).” MatTek corporation is at the forefront of tissue

engineering and 3D reconstructed human tissue models.

 Cortes 5

Alternatives to animal testing: Computer (in-silico) Modeling

The National Center for Biotechnology Information states that in-silico modeling, in

which computer models are developed to model pharmacologic or physiologic process, is a

logical extension of controlled in vitro experimentation. PETA explains how in silico modeling

can simulate human biology and the progression of developing diseases. “Quantitative structure-

activity relationships (QSARs) are computer-based techniques that can replace animal tests by

making sophisticated estimates of a substance’s likelihood of being hazardous, based on its

similarity to existing substances and our knowledge of human biology” (PETA). ……….
Commented [OT33]: Maybe discuss whether in-vitro or in-
silico is the safest/cost-effective/practical/etc., solution for
animal testing.
Commented [OT34]: I would suggest including a
conclusion or an overview of some sort. This can define your
exploratory essay and wrap up all the major points you
discussed in your paper

Works Cited

Humane Society International, “About Animal Testing in Cosmetics”

http://www.hsi.org/issues/becrueltyfree/facts/about_cosmetics_animal_testing.html

Mone Gregory, “New Models in Cosmetics Replacing Animal Testing” April 2014,

https://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2014/4/173234-new-models-in-cosmetics-replacing-animal-

testing/fulltext

PETA, “ Alternatives to Animal Testing” People for the ethical treatment of animals,

https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/alternatives-animal-testing/ Commented [OT35]: separate page/page break

Cortes 6