The number of animals killed in toxicity tests could be cut by almost a third
if researchers first used cell lines to estimate the lethal doses of chemicals.
In the US, potentially hazardous chemicals are tested to see if a single dose
will make rodents ill or kill them.
Although the tests have been improved to make them more humane, between 8 and
12 animals are still killed per chemical tested. Using cell lines to first
screen the chemicals could cut the death rate even further, says a National
Institutes of Health report.
