Transcript Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk

Biorisk
An Engineering Safety Module
Prepared by Valentin Malenkov
Reviewed by Prof. Marc Aucoin
Sponsored by: MINERVA
(www.safetymanagementeducation.com/)
and MITACS
Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Biorisk
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Module Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Chapter 2: Microorganisms, Pathogens, and
Toxins
Chapter 3: Regulation of Biohazardous
Materials and Risk Management Systems
Chapter 4: Risk Assessments, Risk Groups,
and Containment Levels
Chapter 5:Biohazardous Material
Containment
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Learning Objectives
1. Understand what is meant by biorisk
2. Be able to differentiate between
biosafety and biosecurity
3. Gain a historical context on the
development of today’s biosafety
4. Understand the international and
Canadian environment in terms of
biosafety standards and regulations
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Defining Biosafety
“Biosafety is a combination of containment principles,
technologies and practices that, together, help prevent
exposure to, or release of, infectious material or toxins
that can cause harm to humans or animals”
[Public Health Agency of Canada]
• Guiding principals for preventing harm when
handling biohazardous material
• Protocols can be formal or informal
• Nature of biohazard and activity determine
standards/protocols required
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Infection Control in Our Everyday
Lives
• Everyday infection control?
– Hand-washing to avoid spread of germs
• Hand washing, decontamination showers
– Properly cooking meat to kill parasites
• Heat sterilization (autoclaves)
– Proper disposal of biodegradable waste
to prevent pest infestations
• Waste disposal and containment
protocols
– Coughing into a tissue or the
crook of your arm to prevent the
spread of colds (instead of your hand)
• Best practises change with time
Image [1]
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Biosafety vs Biosecurity
“Biosafety protects people of biohazards,
biosecurity protects biohazards from
people” [Public Health Agency of
Canada]
• Biosafety: Protects people and the
environment from exposure to harmful
biological materials
– Maintaining containment
– Preventing exposure
– Emergency response protocols
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Biosafety vs Biosecurity (cont’d)
• Biosecurity: Prevents misappropriation
and misuse of potentially harmful
biological agents
– Secure storage
– Limited access
– Inventory of stock
• “Biosecurity” for animal infection control
between populations/farms (requires
context)
– This definition not used for this module
(unless specified)
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Biosafety Background: The
Biohazard Symbol
Image [2]
• Very distinct and well known symbol
• Used internationally to indicate biohazard (threat to
living organisms)
• Developed at Dow Chemical Company in 1966
• "We wanted something that was memorable but
meaningless, so we could educate people as to what
it means.“ Charles Baldwin, Dow Engineer
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Disease Shaping Human History
• Impacted human history from the very
beginning
– Early human development
• Low population until migration from Africa
(~65,000-80,000 years ago) from zoonotic
diseases?* [1,2]
• Diseases migrated with humans and evolved
alongside [3]
– Shaped ongoing development
• Major population culls world-wide through
epidemics
• Allowed easier colonization (up to 90% mortality
among natives) [3]
Zoonotic
Diseases:
Any disease
capable of
infecting
more than
one species
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Disease Shaping Human History (cont’d)
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• Major epidemics in human history[3]
– Black Plague (1347-1351)
• Brought from China by caravan trade
• Up to 1/3 of Europe's population killed
– “Great dying” in the Americas
(Starting in the1600’s)
• Disease brought by Europeans
• Local population vulnerable, up to 90%
mortality
– HIV/AIDS (1950-present)[4]
• World-wide pandemic
• 40 million infected world-side (2003)
Image [3]
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Poor Infection Control in Early History
• Poor hygiene
– Increases prevalence of pests and
parasites
– Increases chance of secondary
transmission
• Lack of knowledge and tools of
modern medicine
– Microorganisms as yet undiscovered
– Antibiotics not discovered until 1933
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Early Infection Control
• Quarantine of infected individuals*
– Not always instituted
– Ectoparasites and pests still transmit
infection (ticks, fleas, rats)
• Burial/cremation of infected bodies
– Not intended as preventative measure
– Measures abandoned in epidemics
(manpower unavailable)
*Can you think of modern day
examples where quarantines
still fail?
Image [4]
Image [4]
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Modern Era of Biosafety
• Began with discovery of microorganisms (1675)
– Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek and Robert Hooke
– Home-made magnification devices
• First link between organism and infection (1854)
– John Snow, local physician
– Outbreak of cholera from a particular well
– Prompted waste/water treatment reform
• Modern bio-warfare
– More directed and efficient than earlier efforts
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Benefits of Biowarfare
• Threat of biowarfare lead to increased
research*
– Major research efforts during Cold War
– USA and USSR conducting work with
Anthrax (B. anthracis), Plague (Y. pestis),
Tularemia (F. tularensis), etc…
• Research facilities built to contain lethal
pathogens
– Biosafety protocols and infrastructure
– High rate of lab-associated infections
– Led to current biosafety standards
*Do you know of any modern day examples of the
benefits of biowarfare/military research?
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Failure of Early Biosafety: Stepnogorsk[5]
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• Cold-war era bio-weapons
manufacturing facility
– Located near town, by other
facilities
– Produced of Anthrax (~300
tonnes annually)
– Part of USSR’s Biopreparat
• Clogged filter removed without
proper reporting
– Procedures in place but no
redundancy
– Start-up protocols didn’t
include check
Fermentors at
Stepnogorsk
(Image [6])
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Failure of Early Biosafety:
Stepnogorsk (cont’d)
• ~100 casualties with many more infected
– Local authorities not notified immediately
– Cover-up of cause lead to further spread
• Want to read more?
– Biohazard: The Chilling True Story of the Largest
Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World
Told from the Inside by the Man Who Ran It (Ken
Alibek, Stephen Handelman)
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Biosafety Today
• Built on past experience and new
research
– Better understanding of microorganisms
– Past incidents studied for root cause
– Risk assessments conducted for new work
• Continues evolving with biotechnology
– Recombinants and genetic manipulation
– Biological production
– Changing face of biowarfare
Image [7]
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Biosafety in Canada
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• All industries involved in biotechnology
are regulated
– Medical research
• Vaccine candidates
• Genetic modification of pathogens
–
–
–
–
Food and drug manufacture
Academic and industrial research labs
Livestock farming and research
Associated industries
• Transportation
• Decontamination
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Biosafety in Canada
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Globe-Spanning Biosafety[6]
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• Positive climate in international
Biosafety
• Annual conferences hosted in many
regions
– European Union
– American Center for Disease Control and
Prevention
– African Biological Safety Association
– International Center for Infectious Diseases
(Winnipeg, Canada)
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Conventions on Biosafety
• The Biological Weapons Convention (1975)
– Disarmament treaty for biological weapons[7]
• Supplements 1925 Geneva Protocol
• Prohibits development, production, stockpiling
– Cold-war era agreement
– 173 members states (Dec 2014)
• The Australia Group (1984)[8]
– Informal agreement for control of sensitive
exports
• Prevents bio/chemical weapons spread/development
– Response to Iran-Iraq war chemical weapon use
– 41 current members not counting the EU
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Conventions on Biosafety (cont’d)
• Convention on Biological Diversity
(1992)
– Mandated rules for work with “living
modified organisms” (LMOs)
– Stated the need for Biosafety protocols but
did not mandate them
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (2000)
– Discussion on safe use of LMOs
– Risks to biodiversity and human health
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
Globe-Spanning Biosafety
• World Health Organization (WHO)
– “In the 21st century, health is a shared
responsibility, involving equitable access to
essential care and collective defence against
transnational threats”
– Agency of United Nations
– Publish recommendations and standards, not
regulations
• International Federation of Biosafety
Associations (2001)
– Discussion between biosafety professionals
– 13 member organization, 9 observer (45 nations
represented)
– Link between WHO, American/European/AsianPacific Biosafety Associations (ABSA, EBSA, APBSA respectively), and the International
Veterinary Biosafety Working Group
http://www.internationalbiosa
fety.org (Image 8)
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Regulatory Bodies in Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
– “To promote and protect the health of Canadians
through leadership, partnership, innovation and
action in public health.”
– Regulations and permits for human pathogens and
facilities working with them
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
– “Dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and
plants, which enhances the health and well-being of
Canada's people, environment and economy.”
– Regulations and permits for food production,
packaging, and livestock and crop health
• More detailed regulatory overview in Chapter 3
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References
[1] Bar-Yosef O. Belfer-Cohen A. (2001) From Africa to Eurasia — early dispersals. Quaternary
International, vol 75, issue 1
[2] Smithsonian.com < http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-human-migration-13561/?no-ist>
[3] Grady, S., & Tabak, J. (2006). Biohazards: Humanity's Battle with Infectious Disease. New
York: Infobase Publishing.
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) “HIV surveillance--United States”
[5] Mauroni, A. (2003). Chemical and Biological Warfare. Santa Barbara: ABC Clio
[6] Mackenzie R, Burhenne-Guilmin F, et al. (2003) An Explanatory Guide to the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. Gland, Switcherland: IUCN.
[7] http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Bio/
[8] http://www.australiagroup.net/en/origins.html
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Attribution for images used
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
“Man washing hands”, This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Bill
Branson (Photographer). Original source:
https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/retrieve.cfm?imageid=4393&dpi=300&fileformat=jpg
Internationally recognized symbol. Original source:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_WSH_part476_54539_7.pdf
“An illustration of an undertaker during the Bubonic plague”, This work is in the public domain in
its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life
plus 70 years or less. Original source: Transferred from en.wikibooks to
Commons by Adrignola using Commons Helper
“Nederlands: mummie van Usai, zoon van Nehket-26e dynastie, Museo Civico Archeologico,
Bologna”, Author: Paul Hermans,. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this
document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later
version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover
Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled GNU
Free Documentation License.
“Technicians set up an assay test for Ebola within the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of
Infectious Diseases' containment laboratory. Samples are handled in negative-pressure
biological safety cabinet to provide additional layer of protection.” Author: Randal Schoepp,
USAMRIID. This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of
that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public
domain. Original source: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/1936263.
“The cellar of 'Building 221' houses ten of these twenty thousand litre tanks to cultivate the
anthrax.“. Author: Petra Wijnsema. Photograph used with the express permission of the author.
“Cell culture”, Author: Umberto Salvagnin. This file is licensed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaibara/3075268200/
Biorisk
An Engineering Safety Module
Prepared by Valentin Malenkov
Reviewed by Prof. Marc Aucoin
Sponsored by: MINERVA
(www.safetymanagementeducation.com/)
and MITACS
Chapter 1: Quiz
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Biorisk
A disgruntled lab employee with access to the pathogen
storage facilities attempts to acquire samples for their
personal gain. Is this first and foremost an issue of
Biosafety or Biosecurity?
True or False: burial and cremation of bodies during
epidemics was a major preventative measure used to
reduce transmission of the disease before modern
medicine.
True or False: Biowarfare research prior to and during the
Cold War could be said to have benefitted Biosafety and
Biosecurity.
Name three of the every-day infection control behaviours
which were related to biosafety protocols in this chapter.
Does the World Health Organization regulate work
conducted with biohazardous material around the world?
What are the two organizations responsible for the
regulation of importation, transport, and use of human
and animal pathogens in Canada?