Environmental concerns associated with the design of genetic engineering facilities

Recombinant DNA technology is being used to produce a wide spectrum of products, such as vaccines, interferon, insulin, and growth hormones. In the design of facilities employing this technology, critical consideration must be given to the protection of the environment, both in the prevention of releases of recombinant DNA organisms into the environment and in the treatment of wastes originating from the production facilities. The design requirements for containment of large-scale systems are complex and require detailed analysis to insure that the containment system can handle both the normal and emergency releases of recombinant DNA organisms. This must include the prevention of releases through either liquid discharges or air emissions. The "killing" method used in the process for either the cells (extracellular product) or the broth (intracellular product) is an important step and can have significant implications in downstream treatment of wastewaters. Since fermentation is the primary process used in the production of recombinant DNA products, wastewater characteristics from this area of the process are basically similar to those of other fermentation processes. They differ, however, because of the "killing" step in the process, which can introduce compounds not normally found in fermentation wastewaters. This can complicate the treatment process by requiring additional treatment operations. Characteristics of wastewaters from other areas of the process can be very diverse, and no general characterization can be made. Techniques for recovery and purification can vary from product to product or even from plant to plant, making characterization difficult. It is important, therefore, that each process be examined in detail so that waste characterization is meaningful and useful in the design of treatment facilities. Because of the complex nature of the processes involved in the production of recombinant DNA products, wastewater treatment can also become a very complex problem. Systems to treat these wastewaters can include many diverse unit operations, from pretreatment of selected streams to tertiary treatment of the combined streams to meet stringent effluent criteria. While biological treatment is almost always applicable, waste loads are very high, and multiple-stage systems could be required. Early and ongoing interface between the process development scientists and engineers and the environmental disciplines allows for the early recognition of potential environmental problems. With early recognition, many of these problems can be economically and efficiently addressed in the design of the facility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)