Personal safety

We follow all general laboratory practices and precautions. We use appropriate personal protective gear, which includes nitrile gloves, lab coats, and safety goggles depending on the task. Eating, drinking, or applying cosmetics is not allowed in the lab space. Long hair should be tied in a ponytail or a bun and we wash our hands regularly. Our laboratory has a waste management system that we must use. All bacterial waste and everything that has been in contact with bacteria or antibiotics (growth medium, pipette tips, etc.) will be disposed of following PharmaCity laboratory guidelines and national GMO legislation.

The orientation and safety training given by the Senior Laboratory Technician Anniina Lepistö at Molecular Plant Biology before the beginning of the laboratory work, and the information acquired during our studies, minimizes the occurrence of lab injuries and common accidents. We consulted the laboratory supervisor Ph.D Mika Keränen about waste handling and proper safety measures working with methylmercury and mercury(II)chloride. Our lab space has been equipped with the essential first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, eyewash station and emergency shower.

Biosafety

All institutions in Finland that are doing GMO work have to have a GMO permit. This includes comprehensive safety and emergency plans. For the cloning of our genetic constructs, we are using only non-pathogenic E. coli and cyanobacterial strains normally used in laboratory settings. The inactivation of all biological material is ensured by autoclaving all S1 waste and consequent safe disposal. All hazardous chemicals and organisms used in the project are disposed of properly.

There may be biosafety concerns associated with the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment. The overexpression of the merA gene, which encodes for a mercury reductase enzyme, may enhance the ability of the organism to resist the toxic effects of mercury. The introduction of the heterologous merB gene, which encodes for a mercury-detoxifying enzyme, may alter the metabolic pathways of the organism. However, these changes are not expected to cause any significant hazards.

To minimize the risks of environmental impact on the surrounding ecosystem. We are not planning to release our modified Synechocystis into the environment but envisioned a pump system that will cycle the contaminated water through a bioreactor, in which the engineered Synechocystis cells convert mercury into a less toxic form, that is then collected from the medium. The culture itself is a closed system and uses either natural sunlight or artificial LED lights as energy.

Before conducting any activities outside of laboratory containment, institutional approval processes, such as biosafety committee review and permits, would need to be followed, along with compliance with national regulations regarding the handling, transport, and release of GMOs and hazardous substances. More testing would have to be done on mercury removal efficiency and genetic stability of the modified strains. There also should be a toxicity evaluation and an environmental impact assessment to establish correct monitoring protocols.

Hazardous chemicals

If hazardous chemicals are not handled properly using the correct safety guidelines there is a risk of one being exposed to these harmful substances. We have printed safety data sheets for all the harmful chemicals we are using to be readily available on a short notice.

Methylmercury and mercuric chloride

Both methylmercury and mercury chloride are highly toxic substances. They can cause severe health effects if not handled properly, including neurological damage and organ dysfunction. There is a risk of contamination if proper aseptic techniques are not followed during handling and culturing of the organisms. Some individuals may have allergies or sensitivities to certain organisms.

We consulted the iGEM committee and the laboratory supervisor Ph. D Mika Keränen to inquire about the specific safety measures we need to take regarding the use of methylmercury and mercury(II)chloride. We submitted a check-in form and in addition to the normal safety measures related to the use of mercury, we have a commercial mercury spill kit in case of accidents during the handling of these chemicals.

Other hazardous chemicals

This section is still under work and will be added later. Be free to check back later!

References and sources

This section is still under work and will be added later. Be free to check back later!