Safety aspects in biotechnology. Classifications and safety precautions for handling of biological agents

The term "biotechnology" is today used much more widely than 10 years ago. According to the modern definition, biotechnology represents the "conveyor belt" which brings advances in the fields of molecular biology, cell biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, biochemistry and process engineering, etc., into the areas of application. It is attempted to indicate the development of safety standards concerning biotechnology. This development is in a state of flux, and the finding that the risks in handling r-DNA organisms are not larger than those arising when handling the known pathogens is becoming more accepted. Accordingly, these r-DNA organisms can also be classified into the known risk groups I-IV and handled under the corresponding safety conditions according to this classification: In the laboratory under the laboratory safety measures L1-L4 described in the BMFT-Guidelines or guidelines for occupational health and hygiene (UVV Biotechnologie) and on a process scale under the process safety measures described in the OECD report. The discussion of aspects on waste disposal, education/training and public perception in the field of biological safety completes the report.