Biosafety Issues: How to Deal With Them?

Biosafety issues are the principles, policies, and procedures adopted to protect and safeguard the humans and environment. It includes practices, strategies, and guides to prevent and check the environment’s exposure to toxins and pathogens. Here the primary objective of these measures is to keep a check on harmful chemicals and biological agents, radiations, etc. In today’s scenario, the importance of biosafety issues has increased because of its benefits to the environment and humans. 

ORIGIN AND AIMS OF BIOSAFETY ISSUES

In 2003, an agreement was enforced and signed by 167 countries on biosafety regulations and was named “The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.” 

Below is the list of aims of this protocol:

1. It ensures safety in the movement of modified living organisms across boundaries. 
2. It functions as a body that frames and shares the methods and principles to assess risks and take measures like cleaning houses. 

MONITORING BODIES FOR BIOSAFETY ISSUES 

Many authorities regulate biosafety measures. Below is the list of some monitoring bodies with their brief description. 

• BRAI- The Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India

The main goal of this monitoring body is to regulate and check excess use of genetically modified organisms, i.e. GMOs. It works as per the rules of the parliament bill introduced in 2013. BRAI signed “The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety”, and after this, a regulatory body was formed. 

• CTNBio: National Technical Commission on Biosafety

This monitoring body was formed under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. The main aim of this body is to develop guidelines and regulations to facilitate and promote biotechnology work at all stages, ensuring biosafety. Furthermore, it protects the environment and human health from adverse effects. 

BIOSAFETY ISSUES USES: BENEFITS 

Following the rules and guidelines helps to avoid biosafety issues. Below is the list of Biosafety issues, uses and some advantages. 

1. It eliminates risk: These measures stop the genetically modified organisms from any direct exposure to harmful rays, pathogens, etc. 
2. Using HEPA (High-efficiency particulate filter): Through HEPA, one can check human beings and organisms from coming in direct physical contact with harmful particulates. The particulate filter traps various bacteria, microorganisms, and other viruses too.
3. Inbuilt ventilation system: This easily stops the entry of harmful gases and protects the lungs from their toxicity. 
4. Give an environment that is sterilised: By following the guidelines and measures of biosafety issues, we can get a sterile environment. 
5. Use of rubber gloves: This helps prevent the spread of harmful toxic elements in humans and the environment. 

WHAT ARE BIOSAFETY ISSUES? – SIGNIFICANCE

Scientists are constantly discovering and researching exotic microbes in today’s modern research. However, these research practices should be monitored with strict guidelines and measures to prevent huge threats to the environment and humanity. Bioterrorism and biosecurity are two major threats and trending issues in recent times in respect of microbes and lethal agent research. One needs to keep things under control in the interest of the environment and human safety. Thus, we can say that biosafety is significant to ensure safe technology and research. 

BIOSAFETY LABORATORY

These laboratories are particularly designed environments with high-level specific technological equipment for research. The designated monitoring authorities create these biosafety levels to control the contamination of biological agents and microbes. Each bio level has a different level of barriers and strictness in monitoring. 

Criteria to decide the bio level of biosafety laboratories:

• Transmissibility
• The severity of virus infection
• Microorganisms origin
• Nature of the work conducted
• Level of risk related to lab containment
• Agent of the lab in question

BIOSAFETY LEVELS

Biosafety Level 1

It is the lowest level and is applied to the least treated organisms’ laboratory. Here at this level, the laboratory is not segregated from any main building. Level 1 biosafety level organisms are skin bacteria, yeast, and E. coli. 

Facilities: 

• Properly washing hands
• Biohazards signs
• Mechanical pipetting
• Drinking, food, and smoke prohibition in the bio laboratories
• Use of safety equipment like lab coats, gowns, goggles, and gloves

Biosafety Level 2

Here the organisms treated are responsible for diseases like HIV, encephalitis virus, and Staphylococcus aureus. It has a greater level of guidelines and rules for preventing injuries. 

Facilities:

• Use of safety equipment like lab coats, gowns, goggles, and gloves
• Eyewash is mandatory on the basin
• Waste material should be decontaminated before disposing
• Biohazards signs
• Bio-laboratory access to outsiders is denied

Biosafety Level 3:

At level 3, the experiment subject can cause life-threatening human diseases like tuberculosis bacteria, yellow fever virus, and West Nile. Here the workers in level 3 bio-laboratories are under strict medical surveillance. 

Facilities:

• Scrub suits, coveralls, and frond-wrap solid gowns should be used
• Activities are performed in biosafety cabinets
• Eyewash and hand-free sink 
• No access from the laboratory to the main building
• Respirators should be mandatorily used 

Biosafety Level 4: 

This is the highest level of biosafety, and here the workers work under high risks, like exotic microorganisms. If one gets infected, it can be fatal too. These laboratories are in a restricted zone away from a common residential area, mostly on the outskirts of a city. 

Facilities:

• Mandatory taking shower and change of clothes after work
• All test material should be decontaminated before disposing
• Experiments should be conducted in class 3 safety laboratory cabinets

WHAT ARE 3 ETHICAL ISSUES WITH GMOs?

Below, we will talk about three ethical issues with GMOs that threaten human lives and the environment. 

1. The introduction of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into nature’s ecosystem can have unpredictable and negative results.
2. Herewith, the GMO patent right claim is another issue that has overshadowed GMOs’ main objective, which was to meet medical and food requirements. 
3. The underdeveloped and developing countries have traditional bioresource knowledge, whereas developed countries exploit the same. 

CONCLUSION

Biosafety measures are the essential measures and guidelines in today’s world to deal with contaminating diseases caused by biological threats. Strictly following these principles will make our lives less risky and the environment safer.