What is a major weakness of using animal studies to determine safe levels of air pollutants?

The major weakness of using animal studies to determine safe levels of air pollutants lies in the challenge of extrapolating the findings from animals to humans. While animal studies provide valuable insights into the potential effects of pollutants, physiological and biological differences between species can result in varying responses to exposure. For example, what is considered a safe level of exposure for an animal may not directly apply to humans due to differences in metabolism, organ function, immune response, and other factors influencing health.

This difficulty in extrapolation can lead to uncertainty in risk assessment, as the data generated from animal models may not accurately predict human reactions to the same substances. Therefore, reliance solely on animal studies for establishing safe limits can be problematic, particularly in regulatory contexts where human health is at stake.

Considering the other options, while the animal rights movement can impact the ethical considerations of conducting studies, it does not diminish the validity of the data obtained. Lack of technology might limit the types of data collected, but it is not specifically a weakness inherent in the study of air pollutants themselves. Lastly, lack of funding certainly affects the scope and number of studies conducted but does not directly pertain to the scientific limitations of using animal data for human health assessments.