Pesticide Animal Tests
As many as 13,000 animals die for one pesticide to be brought to market, and there are more than 10,000 pesticides on the market today. Animal tests are often not predictive of human health outcomes, so PCRM scientists work to promote the development and use of more human-relevant, nonanimal methods wherever possible. Learn more about our key areas of emphasis:
- Registration Review: Four times a year the Environmental Protection Agency opens a public commenting period for currently registered pesticides under review. PCRM reviews every pesticide and comments wherever possible to reduce animal use.
- Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC): PCRM director of regulatory testing issues Kristie Sullivan, M.P.H., is a member of this Federal Advisory Committee, which advises the Environmental Protection Agency on various stakeholders pesticide issues, including toxicity testing.
- Roadmap to a Better Method Workshops: PCRM gathers regulators and experts to review and discuss the use and impact of nonanimal models. The end goal is to identify barriers to the implementation of nonanimal methods for a specific toxicological endpoint and/or animal test currently required by North American regulatory agencies. The first workshop focused on the dermal absorption test, the next will focus on inhalation toxicity testing.
- Animal Tests for Pesticide Products Infographic: This infographic illustrates the painful procedures animals endure before dying in 33 common pesticides tests.