What You Might Not Know
The Environment
and Dissection
Disposal of Toxic Waste
Millions of formaldehyde-laden specimens
must be disposed of every year. Formaldehyde is a "reasonably
anticipated" carcinogen in humans. "Teachers and students
who handle preserved specimens represent potential high exposure
groups." (Department of Health and Human Service's National
Toxicity Program's Eighth Report on Carcinogens)
The EPA has designated formaldehyde
as a "hazardous air pollutant, water pollutant, and waste
constituent." Formaldehyde has been detected in municipal
and industrial water supplies, rainwater, lake water, and
some waterways. Some plants can absorb gaseous formaldehyde
through their leaves. (Eighth Report on Carcinogens) The disposal
of specimens may present a risk to the environment and subsequently
our health.
Depletion
of Organisms from Natural Habitats
The number of animals killed and preserved for dissection
labs each year can only be estimated. The Humane Society of
the United States gives a conservative approximation of 6
million vertebrates used in high school dissections alone.
Frogs, turtles, snakes, fish (usually perch) and dogfish sharks
are among the wild-caught species.
Carolina Biological Supply Company states that "Carolina obtains
animals from many sources - some from cultures, some from
natural or managed habitats where seasonal collections are
made, and many from the food industry." (CBSC Web site July
2000) As with many biological supply companies, Carolina does
not state specifically the origin of its specimens, but does
admit to wild-harvesting. ¨
DOGFISH SHARKS: The dogfish
shark is the most abundant species of shark (University of
Washington) and is often sold to biological suppliers. (National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)) Dogfish are heavily overfished
in the North Atlantic. (University of Washington)
According to the State of North Carolina's Division of Marine
Fisheries Year 2000 Status Report, mature female populations
declined dramatically from 1998-9, whether by direct harvesting
or as by-catch of other fish. Due to their unique form of
reproduction (ovoviviparous reproduction), females are often
dissected in Advanced Placement Biololgy and undergraduate
classes. ¨
FROGS: The amphibian populations
of the world are in peril, so much so that the World Conservation
Union has created the Declining Amphibian Populations Task
Force (DAPTF). This is not only happening in far-off countries
such as Australia and Costa Rica, but in our own backyard.
(US National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII))
Frogs in Minnesota, Colorado, and even in Yosemite National
Park, "an area largely protected from habitat destruction
and chemical pollution," are disappearing. (NBII) "[Frogs]
are good 'indicators' of significant environmental changes
that may go initially undetected in humans." (NBII) Many species
of frogs sold to schools by biological supply companies are
wild-caught.
September 2000
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