Every day, we breathe in chemicals and toxins such as those in cigarette smoke or other air pollutants.
The health hazards posed by these substances are tested by forcing animals to inhale large quantities of them while confined to narrow tubes every day for hours, even for months at a time, before finally being killed.
However, this need not be the case. Thanks to scientific advancements, we now have exposure systems that can be used to test these substances in human cells. And the PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. is accepting proposals to award a VITROCELL® exposure system—valued at up to $100,000—to researchers who will use it to avoid testing on animals.
VITROCELL® systems can be used to deliver aerosolized test substances to one side of human lung cells that are exposed to a nutrient-rich (blood-like) fluid on the other side. This configuration mimics the human lungs and, therefore, can be used to predict human health effects more accurately than tests on animals.
The winning proposal will be selected based on its scientific merit and its potential to replace animals in inhalation toxicity testing. Proposals for this award must be submitted by March 30, 2017.
In addition, the PETA International Science Consortium is purchasing similar equipment for the Institute for In Vitro Sciences—a global leader known for its brilliant work in helping corporations switch from animal to non-animal testing—to help in the effort to replace animals in inhalation testing.
For more information on the award, check out the PETA International Science Consortium award page.
