Safety

Overview

At CCA iGEM, the safety of our team members is our greatest priority, and we strive to promote proper conduct in the lab. Prior to any physical lab work, certification obtained via extensive online training and in-person orientation was required for all team members. The topics encompassed:

  • Hygiene
  • No food or drink allowed
  • Washing hands
  • Disinfect surfaces with 70% ethanol
  • PPE
  • Lab coats
  • Gloves at all times
  • Close toed shoes
  • Biohazard disposal
  • Special biohazard disposal containers
  • Deactivate hazardous liquids with 1:10 bleach solution and sit for 20 minutes before sink disposal
  • Special sharp object disposal containers
  • Storage
  • Proper labeling for all reagents
  • Proper hazard labeling and convention for all reagents
  • Proper understanding of storage units (freezers, incubators, etc.)
  • Handling
  • Prior research on operating lab equipment
  • Proper pipetting procedures
  • Research and rehearsal before each planned procedure
  • Emergency
  • Fire safety routes
  • Emergency aid kit locations and use
  • Emergency eyewash and shower locations
  • COVID-19
  • Weekly mandatory submission of COVID tests before admission on site
  • COVID face covering and social distancing
  • Regulations
  • GHS Hazard Communication Standard
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976)

Project Safety

Nonpathogenic E. Coli Chassis

We use BL21 strain E. coli microorganisms in our biosynthesis of sanguinarine. BL21 is non-pathogenic, meaning that it poses minimal safety concerns for work in the lab, and is safe in terms of health and environmental concerns.

3D Printer

Our model that we constructed of the eco-plate was created using a 3D printer. These machines can heat up to over 220 degrees celsius, posing a serious hazard should one make contact and potential fire safety concerns (RIT 19). Our school's 3D printer has mechanisms to address these hazards and we employed numerous safety routines. The model of the 3D printer we used is completely encased in a fortified non-flammable plastic and metal container. The printer was never used overnight or after school hours for fire safety. While printing, the 3D printer always had at least one trained individual in vicinity. Harmful fumes from printing were removed by air circulation, and the printer was isolated in its own room.

Environmental Safety

View our environmental analysis for further detail on the project decisions we made for environmental safety.

Human Safety

Sanguinarine is classified as a toxin which inherently brings up concerns regarding human safety in handling the compound and distributing it to the public. However, pre-existing tests, in-vivo with live mice, confirm that sanguinarine in extended exposure at high concentrations, has no effect on the mammals (Mackraj et al 08).

Final Result

Overall, implementation of our final product is intended to be extremely safe for practical use, and safe in the laboratory. This is supported by existing literature and strict lab safety training.

References

Mackraj, I., Govender, T., & Gathiram, P. (2008). Sanguinarine. Cardiovascular Drug Reviews, 26(1), 75-83.

Rochester Institute of Technology. (2019). 3-D Printer Safety. Retrieved from https://www.rit.edu/fa/grms/ehs/content/3-d-printer-safety.