Necessity of animal experiments for the safety evaluation and necessary regular consequences for public health

Abstract

In the course of the ages, man’s safety in his way of life has undergone many changes. Progressively the risks due to contact with or absorption of xenobiotics have increased for several reasons:

• the native environment of man is not necessarily propitious, as in J.J. Rousseau’s philosophy or in the finalist theories, and now contains many toxic compounds, not known to earlier generations. Industrial and technical progress has increased their quantity.

• Men eat and drink and try to improve both the quantity (pesticides) and quality (additives of their food).

• Men work and can come into contact with occupational compounds, responsible for troubles and diseases.

• Men take care of themselves and use drugs with great efficacy, but also with high toxicity. This is true for animals too.

• Men come under ‘society’ influences, related to fashion (cosmetics) or to harmful habits (tobacco, alcohol, narcotics…).