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Team:Evry/Safety
From 2012.igem.org
| We are working at the platform of Institute of Systems and Synthetic Biology (iSSB), which is a research unit of Université d’Evry-Val-d’Essonne. It is fully equipped for bacterial genetics and molecular biology work in terms of devices and has typical Biosafety Level 1 laboratories. Our team is under daily supervision of Prof. Alfonso Jaramillo, the team direction of Bio-Synth Group of iSSB. We receive regular help as well from Prof. Ioana Popescu, engineer and hygiene and security correspondent, assisted by Dr. Dominique Zeliszewski, as well as from Thomas Landrain, a Ph.D. student working on site. All the iSSB research team is always around to help and advise us about good laboratory practices. Page à utiliser: http://wiki.issb.genopole.fr/index.php/HS:Main |
a. Safety questions
1. Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of:
Researcher safety
Chassis
We are working with level 1 safety organisms, which are not dangerous for researchers:- Escherichia coli: is the most commonly used gram-negative bacterial chassis in Molecular Biology. E. coli is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms (endotherms). E. coli can benefit their hosts by producing Vitamin K2,and by preventing the establishment of other pathogenic bacteria within the intestine. We work with DH5a and TOP 10 that are common laboratory strains, considered as Level 1 Biosafety Containment agent and are non-pathogenic. However researchers are advised to use standard laboratory safety equipment and procedures while handling the cultures including wearing lab coats, gloves, etc.
- Xenopus tropicalis: is a model organism for genetics, developmental biology, cell biology, toxicology, neuroscience and recently for synthetic biology. It is not dangerous for humans.
Dangerous substances
All the standard molecular biology protocols we use in our experimentation are not dangerous for the researchers. However, our team works with potentially dangerous substances:- Ethidium Bromide (EtBr): is an intercalating agent commonly used as a fluorescent tag (nucleic acid stain) for agarose gel electrophoresis. Ethidium bromide may be a mutagen, carcinogen or teratogen although this depends on the organism and the conditions. EtBr intercalates double stranded DNA (i.e. inserts itself between the strands), deforming the DNA. This could affect DNA biological processes, like DNA replication and transcription. Acute health effects: May cause eye and skin irritation. May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause respiratory tract irritation. May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by dizziness, drowsiness, headache, shortness of breath, cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin due to deficient oxygenation of the blood), rapid heart rate and chocolate-brown blood. Chronic health effects: May cause methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by chocolate-brown colored blood, headache, weakness, dizziness, breath shortness, cyanosis (bluish skin due to deficient oxygenation of blood), rapid heart rate, unconsciousness and possible death. May alter genetic material. Hence, we do not wash the gel in EtBr solution. Instead, EtBr is added in minimal concentration to the agar solution before it solidifies. It is strictly observed that gloves are used when handling EtBr or EtBr-containing gel. Gels, EtBr-containing gloves and tips are discarded considering them to be 'Hazardous Waste'.
- Acetonitrile: inflammable liquid. Acute effects: Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator). Severe over-exposure can result in death. Chronic effects: The substance is toxic to blood, kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, central nervous system (CNS). The substance may be toxic to the reproductive system. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs.
- Methanol: flammable liquid and vapor. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. Vapor harmful. Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Causes eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. May cause central nervous system depression. Target Organs: Eyes, nervous system, optic nerve.
- Formic acid: inflammable liquid, causes dangerous burns when get in eye- and skin contact. Acute effects: very hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant, corrosive), of ingestion. Hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, permeator). Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung sensitizer). Non-corrosive for lungs. Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly on mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering. Chronic effects: Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer). Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. The substance may be toxic to kidneys, liver, upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, central nervous system (CNS). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated or prolonged contact with spray mist may produce chronic eye irritation and severe skin irritation. Repeated or prolonged exposure to spray mist may produce respiratory tract irritation leading to frequent attacks of bronchial infection.
- Perchloric acid: explosive liquid. Acute effects: very hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, irritant), of eye contact (irritant, corrosive), of ingestion,. Non-corrosive for lungs. Liquid or spray mist may produce tissue damage particularly on mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and respiratory tract. Skin contact may produce burns. Inhalation of the spray mist may produce severe irritation of respiratory tract, characterized by coughing, choking, or shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure may result in skin burns and ulcerations. Over-exposure by inhalation may cause respiratory irritation. Inflammation of the eye is characterized by redness, watering, and itching. Skin inflammation is characterized by itching, scaling, reddening, or, occasionally, blistering.
- Iron (III) chloride: corrosive. Harmful if swallowed. Causes eye and skin irritation and possible burns. May cause respiratory and digestive tract irritation. May cause blood abnormalities. May cause liver and kidney damage. Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, liver.
- Sodium hydroxide: Harmful if swallowed. May cause adverse reproductive effects based upon animal studies. May cause liver and kidney damage. Causes burns by all exposure routes. Target Organs: Kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system. Causes eye and skin burns in contact, destructive to the tissue of the mucous membranes and airway, chronic exposition can cause lungs and ovaries cancer (tested on hamster).
