Biological Safety (Biosafety) Lec.-1 PDF

10/11/2024 Dr. Nada Fadil Ph. D. Microbiology Lec.-1- Biological safety (Biosafety): It is the scientific discipline denoted to t...

10/11/2024 Dr. Nada Fadil Ph. D. Microbiology Lec.-1- Biological safety (Biosafety): It is the scientific discipline denoted to the protection of individuals, agriculture and the environment from potentially harmful microorganisms and other biological agents. The term “biosafety” refers to the use of specific practices, safety equipment, and specially designed buildings to ensure that workers, the community, and the environment are protected from accidental exposure or unintentional release of infectious agents, toxins, and other biological hazards. 1  Levels of biological safety There are a total of four levels ranked in order of increasing risk as stipulated by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a novel assessment index “safety score” of 1, 2, 3 and 4 with 1 being the safest was established for normalizing the toxicity effects. Safety score was determined according to the highest exposure concentration where adverse ecotoxicological effects could not be observed, The four biosafety levels are BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4, with BSL-4 being the highest (maximum) level of containment. BSL-1: BSL-1 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults. They follow basic safety procedures, called Standard Microbiological Practices and require no special equipment or design features. 2 BSL-2: BSL-2 laboratories are used to study moderate-risk infectious agents or toxins that pose a moderate danger if accidentally inhaled, swallowed, or exposed to the skin. BSL-3: BSL-3 laboratories are used to study infectious agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation, and pose a significant potential risk to laboratory personnel and the community. Examples include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). BSL-4: Biohazard level 4 usually includes dangerous viruses like Ebola, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, and many other hemorrhagic viruses found in the tropics. Only specific persons can work with these viruses, requiring them to wear a positive pressure personnel suit with a segregated air supply. Biological safety for workers in the biological field: The biological safety cabinet is the one piece of laboratory and pharmacy equipment that provides protection for personnel, the product, and the environment. 3  A standard list of basic laboratory safety rules are given below, and must be followed in every laboratory that uses hazardous materials or processes.  Follow the instructions.  Keep snacks out of the lab.  Never smell, inhale or taste laboratory chemicals.  Dispose of waste properly.  Identify safety equipment.  Think safety first.  Dress for the lab.  Don't play the mad scientist.  Always wash hands and arms with soap and water after removing gloves and before leaving the work area.  Never eat and drink in the laboratory Biological safety risks: Biological health hazards include bacteria, viruses, parasites and molds or fungi. They can pose a threat to human health when they are inhaled, eaten or come in contact with skin. They can cause illness such as food poisoning, tetanus, respiratory infections or parasite infection. 4