Campus newspaper examines animal testing at Plattsburgh State

The Cardinal Points Online newspaper is running an interesting article and editorial that examine animal testing at Plattsburgh State.

Director of Sponsored Research and Programs Michael Simpson said this type of testing started in the mid-1980s and that PSUC is one of the only places where it is conducted.

He said the experiments are governmentally funded through the National Institute of Health.

Currently, Simpson said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s hearing standards for industrial-like factories adhere to Gaussian noise levels, which are steady streams of noise. This research, however, deals with the effects of the random noises found in factories, which supposedly cause three times as much damage to the human ear.

“The research is important because the information about noise-induced hearing loss will help companies develop strategies that could result in safer working conditions for factory workers,” Simpson said.

The newspaper points out that approximately 300 animals are killed every year, euthanized when the testing is done.

An editorial in Cardinal Points argues that the on-going experimentation is cruel and should be ended:

If you value life; if you support the humane treatment of animals; if you, as an animal, would rather not be subjected yourself to laboratory testing and euthanizing; speak out for the animals that are being given death on the campus that we look to to prepare us for life.

The links will take you to the full articles.  They’re worth a read before commenting.

It’s important to note that animal research goes on at a number of research and training facilities across the North Country.