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Biosafety Principles for Microbial Culture Technologies
Published in Jyoti Ranjan Rout, Rout George Kerry, Abinash Dutta, Biotechnological Advances for Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Nanotechnology, 2022
Vidushi Abrol, Sundeep Jaglan, Sharada Mallubhotla
There are some standard microbiological activities that are not restricted in laboratories like eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, pipetting by mouth, etc. (Chosewood, 2007). The biosafety of laboratory work should be the central focal point during laboratory practices. Biosafety generally describes a safe mode of handling and managing the intrinsic infectious agents of living organisms in the experimental environment and the incorporation of biosafety measures to minimize the risk factors within the laboratory premises (Fleming and Hunt, 2006). Some researchers have to deal with genetic material as such (“naked” DNA), which can be dangerous to mankind as well. Even in a few cases, the use of vaccines may also provide an increased level of personal protection. But, before initiating any kind of work with pathogens or GMOs in a laboratory every individual should be made aware so that they can plan their work accordingly taking into consideration about all possible hazards of these organisms, their outcomes, and also need to take appropriate biosafety measures to decrease any risks for mankind and the surroundings (Karlsson, 2003). It was proved by Adel Hussein Elduma, who evaluated the biosafety measures that were practiced in Khartoum state diagnostic laboratories in 2009, which showed that the standards of biosafety precautions approved by the laboratory were shallow. Also, the awareness of the laboratory cadre toward biosafety principles and exercises was next to negligible (Elduma, 2012).
Biosafety in Civil and Environmental Engineering
Published in Volodymyr Ivanov, Environmental Microbiology for Engineers, 2020
In many industrial, research, and educational biolaboratories, similar definitions of biosafety levels (BSL 1–4) are used together with the precautions required to avoid harm from dangerous biological agents. Following the biosafety level protocols prevents the risk of exposure to pathogens or their dispersion in environment. Biosafety level one is related to work with well-characterized agents, which do not cause disease in healthy humans. Biosafety level two is related to work with moderate potential hazard to workers and the environment. The majority of microorganisms used in civil and environmental engineering research are at this level. Biosafety level three is related to work with microorganisms that can cause serious and potentially lethal disease via the inhalation route. Biosafety level four is related to work with agents that could cause severe to fatal disease in humans for which there are no available vaccines or treatments.
Principles of Biosafety in the Working Environment
Published in Katarzyna Majchrzycka, Małgorzata Okrasa, Justyna Szulc, Respiratory Protection Against Hazardous Biological Agents, 2020
Specific practices and controls that reduce the risk of unintentional exposure or release of biological agents and materials in working environments for which the biorisks are inherent in their activities are often formulated. In the United States, the standard guidance for biosafety practices in microbiological and biomedical laboratories is provided in the form of Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) manual created by the CDC and the NIH. It establishes four ascending levels of containment, the so-called biosafety levels (BSLs) 1 through 4, that correspond to risk groups of biological agents (infectivity, severity of disease, transmissibility) and to the nature of the work being conducted. BSL-1 is appropriate for agents that are not known to cause disease in healthy humans (basic level of protection). BSL-2 is appropriate for handling moderate-risk agents transmitted trough alimentary route or throug absorption. BSL-3 is appropriate for agents that may cause serious and potentially lethal infections that may be transmitted by infectious aerosols. BSL-4 standards should be met by facilities dealing with agents that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease by infectious aerosols and for which no treatment is available. Each BSL describes the practices, equipment and facility safety measures appropriate for the level of risk associated with handling a particular biological agent [Chosewood 2009].
Biosafety and biosecurity in Synthetic Biology: A review
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2019
Lucía Gómez-Tatay, José M. Hernández-Andreu
Biosafety refers to the prevention of the risks to public health and the environment that could be produced by accidental interactions between dangerous biological agents and other organisms or the environment. In the field of Synthetic Biology, the main concerns relate to research personnel working with synthetic organisms and potential damage to the environment and population surrounding the research area (Ahteensuu, 2017).