The boxes containing the rats were transported by forklift to the rubbish compressor, and placed inside. The compressor was then turned on
Whistleblower accuses multinational research firm – whistleblower from Charles River lab
One of the world’s biggest animal research labs has been sanctioned after being accused of leaving hundreds of rats in an industrial crusher by mistake, we can reveal.
Scores of rodents died after being crushed to death in a rubbish compressor, according to a whistleblower, while others began self- harming after being given the wrong doses of chemicals during trials.
The Home Office yesterday confirmed an inquiry prompted by the claims has led to sanctions against Charles River Laboratories, operator of the Elphinstone Research Centre in East Lothian.
The multinational is one of the world’s largest suppliers of laboratory research services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. It experiments on dogs, monkeys, rats and mice to make medicines, fertilisers and weedkillers.
The UK G ov e r n m e n t began invest i g a t i n g the labs in Tranent after the whistleblower contacted anim a l we l f a r e group Pe t a , claiming that up to 54 live rats, including pregnant females, died in the crusher after a box containing hundreds of rodents was taken for destruction in error.
Animal welfare groups yesterday condemned the incident and called on the Home Office to review Charles River Laboratories’ licence. The firm, which breeds its own animals for research, employs nearly 1,000 people in Tranent.
The Sunday Post has seen a copy of a letter, and an affidavit from the whistleblower, which was submitted by Peta to the Home Office. The letter requested an inquiry and cited a series of incidents last year including one on July 23 when dozens of live rats were killed.
The charity told the Home Office: “Approximately 100 to 120 rats were delivered in standard transport boxes to Block N of the toxicology unit from the breeding centre in Margate. The boxes containing the rats were placed inside the airlock but, for reasons unknown, the rats were not then transferred into their home cages.
“Instead, the boxes containing the rats were later placed into the area where rubbish is collected by site services and were then moved via forklift to the rubbish compressor. They were placed into the compressor, which was then turned on.
“It was later brought to the attention of staff that boxes containing live animals had been placed inside the compressor and had been crushed.
“The boxes were subsequently removed, and it was discovered that approximately 50 to 54 rats, including pregnant females, had been crushed to death. The rats who had been crushed but had not died were euthanised.”
One staff member was dismissed following the incident, the whistleblower claimed, while another was suspended and later issued with a warning.
In another incident, it was alleged, rats being experimented on during an inhalation study were exposed to chloromethane, a chemical gas.
T h e w h i s t l e b l ow e r said: “During the study, self-mutilation behaviour was witnessed among the rats, but this did not necessarily result in euthanasia.
“However, five rats who were in the high-dose group were mistakenly forced to inhale a dose that was above the maximum limit. Consequently, they suffered to the extent that they chewed their own limbs; one female chewed a toe off one of her front feet. All five were subsequently euthanised.
“The study was not cancelled at the time of this incident, but the rats who had been exposed to too much chloromethane were removed from the dataset.”
In a third incident, rats were allegedly given the wrong test compound during a cancer study. “The rats in group three were given the compound meant for the rats in group four. It was reported to us that the technician responsible for dosing the rats had not read the label properly,” Peta said.
“Despite the mistake, the study continued, and standard operating procedures were changed so
‘ The breaches reported are serious in nature and we hope will lead to appropriate sanctions by