A toxin, produced by an animal, can be a toxicant to humans, but it can also provide some favorable uses as well. Present one such example. Cone snails are some of the most toxic animals in the world. Cone snails have a small range in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific area. Anyone who gets stung by one of these snails likely has only a few minutes to live. However, cone snail venoms are made up of conotoxins, biologically active peptides that target neurons and muscles. Snail venom used to paralyze the prey so because of their compounds with medicinal properties cone snail can help to dismiss the cancer and produce approximately hundreds of more powerful morphine. Tornio, S. (n.d.). 5 venomous animals that could save your life. Retrieved
September 18, 2016, from http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/5-venomous-animals-could-save-your-life You might hear a Toxicologist make this statement: "If you can smell it, you have been exposed". In terms of OHSA (PEL and STEL which are found on MSDS sheets) What does he mean? Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is the limit that united states expose physically to people into chemical substances these limits are established by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).Short-term exposure limit (STEL) determines the average period of time that people can be exposed. Hence, "If you can smell it, you have been exposed" on terms of PEL and STEL it means if you not follow the proper security rules you can be exposed to severe consequences as affect your skin, eyes, or other severe consequences. Accordingly, to OHSA put limits as PEL and STEL.
A defining feature of the lionfish which everyone sees are the “18 venomous spines on its dorsal fin and its pelvic and anal fins, which are used for defense” as described in FACE OFF WITH THE ENEMY: LIONFISH by Special To The Citizen. Which is a neurotoxin that results in intense pain and swelling of one’s body. Fernando Simal, a marine hunter at STINAPA National Marine Park, found out the potency of their venom after his first hunt when being stung by the lionfish he caug...
Alan Goldberg. “Alternatives to Animals in Toxicity Testing.” Ed. Jeanne Williams. Scientific American Inc: 1989. Print.
and Europe, which include reduction of animal use, refine animal study techniques, and animal testing replacement. According to Dana ,Bidnall, “Animals are also used, and subsequently killed, every year in many other types of laboratory experiments, from military testing to simulated car crashes to deliberately introduced diseases such as AIDS and Alzheimer 's”(49). Bidnal also states that, “These experiments take place in labs at universities, pharmaceutical companies, and testing agencies, and on farms and military bases around the world”(49). The author suggest,”Researchers who conduct experiments on animals argue that it would be unethical to test substances with potentially adverse side effects on humans; animals are good surrogates because their responses are similar to humans”(49).Bidnal contends with ,”However, some animals are chosen for other reasons”(49). According to Bindal, “Animal testing is not the only option in toxicity testing”(50). Bidnal states, “Alternatives are widely available and include human clinical and epidemiological studies; experiments with cadavers, volunteers,and patients; computer simulation and mathematical models; and in vitro (test tube) tissue culture techniques, to name just a
The medicinal use of animals for the benefit of humans, zootherapy, dates all the way back to the medieval period. Many indigenous peoples around the world rely solely on the use of plants and animals for the healing and treatment of their people. These ancient uses of animals have often led to scientific research of the specific uses of animals and compounds developed from animals in modern medicine. The use of leeches is a well-know type of zootherapy that has recently been approved by the FDA. The venom of cone snails is also being studied and used in pain relief for people who suffer from cancer and other painful diseases. Also, there are studies being done on the ability of arctic mammals, such as the arctic ground squirrel, to survive in subzero temperatures during hibernation. Scientists are looking to incorporate this in organ transplants to prolong the life of organs outside the body, and in protecting the brain from ischaemia.
Toxicology." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Student Resources in Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
Some examples of products that worked for animals that didn't work for humans are Rexar, Celebrex, Enbrel, Zafirlukast, and many other products (Greek). These products did not have a good outcome on humans. Rexar resulted in seven deaths and cardiovascular events. Celebrex resulted in ten deaths and eleven cases of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Enbrel resulted in infections and death and Zafirlukast resulted in some people getting Churg-Strauss Syndrome (Greek). Animals have to go through many tests and each test has a purpose. An example of one test is a test that is supposed to be used for the beginning stages of cancer. The animals that is used for this test is mice or rats. During this test, the mice or rats are force fed a substance for fourteen days in a row. After being fed the substance, samples of bone marrow are taken from the animals to look at genetic changes ("8 Reasons Why Animals Testing Doesn't Help Humans"). Another example of a test is a test that is supposed to be for birth defects. Rabbits or rats are used for this procedure. A pregnant rabbit or rat is force fed throughout her pregnancy. The female is then killed the day before she is expected to give birth. After this, the pups are examined for any possible abnormalities ("8 Reasons Why Animal Testing Doesn't Help Humans"). Chemicals are also used on animals ("Product Testing: Toxic and
b. when it comes to toxicity they need to breed, test, and dispose animals as hazardous waste
When Spring rain starts, land crabs know that the signal for mating season. Land crabs mate in underground burrows. Millions of female crabs hurry toward the ocean to drop off their fertilized eggs in the water and return to the swamp. Mullet and other fish eat the little crabs that hatch from the eggs. The baby crabs that survive the first few weeks of their lives, will join the adults in nearby forests. Unfortunately, crossing a road is part of the journey to the ocean. Therefore, many drivers find that their tires have been punctured and many crabs have been run over. The crabmeat is toxic to people, but animals seem to love it. Especially the endangered Cuban crocodile. Cuba's land crab population doesn't seem to be in danger. Officials
Being boiled alive is a tortuous method for killing any animal. When lobsters are put into steaming hot water, it is unjust to assume that they don’t feel any pain while being boiled. In his essay “Consider the lobster”, Wallace states, “Lobsters do have nociceptors, as well as invertebrate versions of prostaglandins and major neurotransmitter via which our own brains register pain.” (Wallace par. 13) Humans just throw the lobster in the boiling water without a second thought of the intense pain the animal is about to go through in order to provide for a meal.
Sea urchins, along with heart urchins and sand dollars, belong to the class Echinoidea, which is in the phylum Echinodermata. Echinoids possess numerous spines, which are used for locomotion and defense, and pedicellariae, tiny, pincer-like structures which are used in feeding. The spines, interestingly, consist of a single crystal of calcium carbonate "that would be as brittle as chalk if not for certain glycoproteins in it" (Harris, p 718). Some urchins have venomous spines which can cause severe pain. For example, according to Lutz (p 679), "Some sea urchins, especially those living on coral reefs, have hollow spines that contain a poison; the pacific Asthenoma has needle-sharp spines that can easily penetrate the skin, break off, and release a poison that is extremely painful and dangerous to humans." The flower urchin, Toxopneustes pileolus, (Figure 1) has poisonous pedicellariae which can potentially kill a human. Toxic material can also be contained in the layer of skin covering the spines, so injection of a spine itself is enough to cause intense pain (Endean, p256). As for treatment, Ryan (p170) recommends removing all spines from affected area with forceps, as long as this can be accomplished without breaking the spine and thus releasing more of the poison.
These omnivores eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, jellyfish and their favorite- sponges (Hawksbill Sea Turtle, National Geographic). Being their favorite food, hawksbills can eat an average of 1200 lbs of sponges a year. Despite the sponges being made up of tiny glasslike needles, eating them does no harm to the turtles. Some of the turtles’ food can be toxic, but the turtles are able to absorb the toxins through their body fat without being harmed them or becoming ill (Hawksbill Sea Turtle, National Wildlife). Feeding on these sponges also benefits underwater ecosystems by allowing more space for other organisms to
Animal models have been the standard for safety testing since the early twentieth century, when rats, mice, and dogs were (and still are) used in both biomedical and cosmetic research. During this time, the United States passed The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requiring pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies to conduct tests on animals to ensure the safety of their products (Evans, 2013). These tests were deemed toxicity tests for their measurement of harmfulness and lethality of new drugs and products. Such tests as the Draize test on rabbits, which measures dermal corrosivity, were common protocol for testing shampoos, pesticides, and household chemical products (Rangantha & Kuppast, 2012). Other tests include acute toxicity tests conducted to determine the effects of immediate chemical exposure, product testing measuring carcinogenicity and birth defects resulting from chemical exposure, and various drug tests which determine lethal side effects and appropriate dosages (Evans, 2013). Though some of these tests have provided important and inferential data regarding the harmfulness of consumer products and drugs, they are highly criticized for their inhumane procedures, costliness, and irre...
Using cats and dogs we can predict the likely harmful effects of chemicals on human health. Although the usefulness of animal models has to be judged case to case as genetically dogs are only 84% similar to humans and cats 90%. A great deal of animal experimentation has been misleading and resulted in either withholding of drugs which subsequently were found to be highly beneficial to humans, or released drugs which were thought to be harmless on animals but caused ill effects in humans. We must consider the negative effects on the animals as well; their wellbeing is at risk and may be effected by conditions during handling, breeding, restraint and housing. This can cause stress, shown in weight loss, behaviour changes, and increased levels of certain hormones.
9. List 2 poisons with therapeutic effects and how they are used? List 2 animals and briefly comment on how their venom’s are being studied to treat diseases.
Every year, millions of animals experience painful, suffering and death due to results of scientific research as the effects of drugs, medical procedures, food additives, cosmetics and other chemical products. Basically, animal experimentation has played a dominant role in leading with new findings and human advantages. Animal research has had a main function in many scientific and medical advances in the past decade and is helping in the understanding of several diseases. While most people believe than animal testing is necessary, others are worried about the excessive suffering of this innocent’s creatures. The balance between the rights of animals and their use in medical research is a delicate issue with huge societal assumptions. Nowadays people are trying to understand and take in consideration these social implications based in animals rights. Even though, many people tend to disregard animals that have suffered permanent damage during experimentation time. Many people try to misunderstand the nature of life that animals just have, and are unable to consider the actual laboratory procedures and techniques that these creatures tend to be submitted. Animal experimentation must be excluded because it is an inhumane way of treat animals, it is unethical, and exist safer ways to test products without painful test.