Introduction 

The biosafety issues are majorly concerned with the policies, procedures, and principles adopted to protect the human population and the environment. The major aim of the biosafety issues is to keep an eye on harmful agents, chemicals, toxins, and radiations. With the advancements in genetic engineering, biosafety measures have gained immense importance for ensuring environmental and public security and safety.

Biosafety Issues

Biosafety issues are defined as the strategies, practices and principles adopted to prevent direct contact with toxins and pathogens. The main objective is to keep a close eye on harmful chemicals, toxins, radiation, and agents. With the changing times and evolution of new technologies, biosafety measures have successfully acquired massive importance. 

People must have a general understanding of monitoring bodies, rules and regulations. Apart from this, the researchers involved in the primary process need to have a thorough understanding of the biosafety issues so that these can be determined and safety measures can be taken at a root cause. According to The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety agreement adopted by 167 countries, it features the below-mentioned objectives. Let’s have a look- 

• To ensure the safe movements of the living organism
• Framing and sharing methodologies and principles for risk assessment through the biosafety clearing house

Significance of Biosafety Issues 

There are several particular areas in which genetic engineering practices are being carried out, and these areas require special permission or approval from the country’s governing bodies. Over the years, there has been great awareness among producers of Genetically Modified Organisms, researchers, administrators, environmentalists, and policymakers regarding biosafety. Regular efforts have spread awareness and taken necessary measures to rectify mistakes. 

Although modern research emerged as a boon to human life, it can go the other way round if not used wisely. Nowadays, the two significant issues arising rapidly are bioterrorism and Biosecurity. Hence, it is essential to check them in the environment and human safety interest. 

Biosafety Levels 

Biosafety levels can be defined as the set of biocontainment precautions specifically designed to protect the laboratory personnel, the surrounding community, and the environment. They ranked from top to bottom depending on the researched organism in a laboratory. These are as follows- 

• Biosafety level 1 

The biosafety level 1 is the lowest level imposed on agents, consisting of threats to the workers in the laboratories and nearby surroundings. Note, the biosafety level 1 is not isolated from anything, including the buildings. The research is easily carried out without checking the special contaminant equipment. These facilities include- 

• Protecting equipment including gowns, gloves, lab coats and goggles
• Prohibition smoking, food and drinking 
• Avoiding aerosols or splashes
• Handling sharps safely 
• Mechanical pipetting
• Signs of biohazards
• Washing hands 

• Biosafety level 2 

Biosafety level 2 consists of several agents that lead to human diseases such asHIV, encephalitis etc. Apart from this, people practising in these labs need to be careful about injuries such as ingestions, cuts, etc. 

Practices that need to be carried out on the biosafety level 2 labs- 

• Using protective equipment, including the glasses, face shields, goggles and so on
• Infection-causing procedures need to take place only in biological safety cabinets
• A sink and eyewash should be available readily 
• Before disposal, the waste material needs to be decontaminated
• Biohazard signs need to be provided

• Biosafety level 3 

The biosafety level 3 includes usage and working on the pathogenic microbes if inhaled leads to several serious diseases. These include yellow fever virus, West Nile virus, bacteria causing tuberculosis, etc. 

Some standard requirements in the biosafety level 3 laboratories are as follows- 

• Protective equipment such as respirators
• One must walk through two levels of self-closing doors to access the lab
• Research and experiments should only be performed in proper biosafety cabinets

• Biosafety level 4 

Biosafety level 4 involves working with chemicals that can be toxic. 

Some standard requirements in the biosafety level 4 laboratories are as follows- 

• While exiting the lab, each researcher needs to shower and change clothes 
• All the material used needs to be decontaminated
• Each experiment can only be conducted under the class III safety cabinets to avoid mishaps

Biopiracy

Biopiracy can be defined as the commercial exploitation of genetic materials or biochemicals naturally. Some significant common traditional knowledge relevant to global survival has several elements mentioned below. Let’s have a look- 

• Varieties of Food crops
• Agriculture or farming 
• Medicinal Plants

Some essential components required for the indigenous and rural population survival include the conversion of biodiversity, species, and habitat. 

Examples of Biopiracy 

Some of its common examples include- 

• Biopiracy of African super-sweet berries 
• Patenting of Azadirachta indica called Neem 
• Biopiracy of Enola beans
• The rosy periwinkle 

Conclusion 

With this, we come to an end of the  topic, Biosafety issues-Biopiracy, and patents. This section discussed the biosafety issues in detail, along with biopiracy and patents.