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In the Name of Science - Update

© Karyn Siegel-Maier

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has issued another action alert relating to the High Production Volume (HPV) chemical testing program being pushed by Vice President Al Gore, the EPA and Environmental Defense Fund. (See previous article, "In the Name of Science? http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/938/... for details about this program.) The recent alert does have some positive news, but there is still more to be done.

As a direct result of pressure from PCRM members, environmentalists, animal welfare activists and Suite101.com members (like you!), they have agreed to drop the terrestrial toxicity test and use an in vitro model instead. However, they plan to go ahead with testing chemicals already recognized as carcinogenic and toxic on animals by using the LD-50 test. They also plan to force-feed high dosages of toxic chemicals for a 2 week period, a procedure known as the chronic tests. It comes down to this: out of the five animals testing procedures proposed, they plan to press on with four of them.

Those of you who responded by writing or emailing Al Gore last month have made a difference and I ask that you do it again. Please keep the pressure on to abolish the HPV program and these useless and unnecessary tests.

Thank you!

To email Al Gore: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Or, write to:

Office of the Vice President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

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