[Vivisection] [Letter] Chemical Companies Plan to Poison 5,000 Animals

[Guest guest]

http://www.peta.org/actioncenter/ActionAlerts-item.asp?id=1991 & int=weekly_enews

 

Your help is needed to stop dozens of new animals tests under the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) notorious high production volume

(HPV) chemical-testing program

<http://www.stopanimaltests.com/u-hpv.asp>, which requires the chemical

industry to complete an arbitrary checklist of animal-poisoning tests

for all chemicals manufactured in or imported into the U.S. in

quantities in excess of 1 million pounds.

 

In 2002, a coalition of chemical companies submitted a test plan for a

large group of 20 HPV chemicals called metal carboxylates. These

chemicals are used in the manufacture of products such as plastics,

paints, and adhesives. PETA’s comments on this original test plan can be

seen here

<http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/pubs/summaries/metalcarb/c14172tc.htm>. In

response to the EPA’s criticism of the test plan, the industry coalition

withdrew its original test plan and submitted 12 separate test plans.

The original test plan was bad enough, as it would have used

approximately 1,000 animals, but the 12 new test plans are far worse.

The tests proposed in these new plans will result in the deaths of as

many as 5,000 animals. Importantly, since these entirely new test plans

have been submitted as " revisions " to the original plan—/bypassing the

agreed-upon comment period/—PETA and other animal protection

organizations have had no opportunity to formally comment on these new

testing proposals!

 

The tests that the coalition is proposing include the following:

 

• *LD50 Tests*

In these infamous tests, animals are force-fed increasing doses of a

chemical until they die. Such acute toxicity tests inflict hideous

suffering on animals, who endure severe abdominal pain; diarrhea;

bleeding from the nose, mouth, and genitals; convulsions; seizures; and

paralysis before they ultimately die. Astonishingly, the chemical

companies are proposing four of these cruel tests, even though they

themselves admit that the tests are unnecessary!

• *In Vivo (Live Animal) Genotoxicity Tests*

Genetic toxicity tests are highly stressful and cruel, as mice are

subjected to frequent handling, restraint, and inhumane force-feeding in

addition to suffering the toxic effects of the chemical that's being

investigated. In vitro (non-animal) methods to study genetic toxicity

without the use of animals have been accepted by government regulators

worldwide as valid alternatives to using animals. Non-animal genetic

toxicity testing methods have already been incorporated into the HPV

program—after a huge effort on PETA's part. However, four in vivo

genetic toxicity tests are proposed in the new test plans.

• *Fish Acute Toxicity Tests

*These tests are similar to the LD50 test described above, except that

chemicals are pumped into the water of tanks holding fish until the

animals die. The fish may endure severe pain, as evidenced by visible

physical and behavioral abnormalities, before they are ultimately

poisoned to death. Two of the proposed fish acute toxicity tests are for

chemicals that the EPA’s own program guidelines define as being

insoluble in water!

 

The CEOs of these chemical companies need to hear that you don't want

them to poison any more animals under the new metal carboxylate test

plans, especially since they have not given the public—including PETA

and the rest of the American animal protection community—a fair

opportunity to comment on them and suggest humane alternatives.

 

*/Please only send polite comments/*.

 

George Cornelius, President and CEO

Arkema Inc.

2000 Market St.

Philadelphia, PA 19103-3222

215-419-5494 (fax)

george.cornelius <george.cornelius

 

Diane Milici, Assistant to the President

Arkema Inc.

diane.milici <diane.milici

 

Robert L. Wood, Chair, President, and CEO

Chemtura Corporation

199 Benson Rd.

Middlebury, CT 06749

203-573-2800 (fax)

robert.wood <robert.wood

 

Michelle Formica, Assistant to the President

Chemtura Corporation

mformica <mformica

 

James F. Kirsch, President and CEO

Ferro Corporation

1000 Lakeside Ave.

Cleveland, OH 44114-7000

216-875-7266 (fax)

kirschj <kirschj

 

Julie Wilkens, Assistant to the President

Ferro Corporation

wilkens <wilkens

 

Rajiv L. Gupta, Chair, President, and CEO

Rohm & Haas Company

Corporate Headquarters

100 Independence Mall W.

Philadelphia, PA 19106-2399

215-592-3377 (fax)

raj_l_gupta <raj_l_gupta

 

Daryl D. Smith, Chair, President, and CEO

Troy Corporation

8 Vreeland Rd.

P.O. Box 955

Florham Park, NJ 07932

973-443-4402 (fax)

smithd <smithd

 

Thomas L. Shepherd, CEO

The Shepherd Chemical Company

4900 Beech St.

Norwood, OH 45212

513-731-1532 (fax)

tshepherd <tshepherd

 

Joseph M. Scaminace, President and CEO

OM Group Americas

127 Public Sq.

1500 Key Tower

Cleveland, OH 44114-1221

216-781-1502 (fax)