Training the Toxicologist in Animal Welfare Needs

Abstract

Critical factors to be considered when training scientists in regulations, concerns, and methods to ensure humane animal use are the level of education and the social awareness of the individuals. The success of the training is dependent on the awareness and concern of the participating people and the ability of the instructor to address these factors. The scientists (toxicologists) who design, conduct, and evaluate safety studies represent a highly diverse population of individuals whose only common interest may be their governmental, industrial, or academic work group. Reflecting these divergencies in background, experience, and interest, effective training of the toxicologist in animal welfare requirements necessary to his or her work depends on the toxicologist's accepting the need for such education to occur and being given rational reasons for requiring that he or she comply with such regulations. The toxicologist may have concerns regarding animal use that range from guilt to absence of conscious concern. If we recognize that the objective of this training is not only to instruct the toxicologist in the humane use of animals and supply references documenting current requirements but also to convince the toxicologist that this instruction is pertinent to his or her personal goals, such training will be accepted and used.