human-practices
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Safety

Table of contents

Lab safety training Lab rules Safe Project Design Safe microplastics disposal

Lab safety training

Before we started our independent work in the laboratory, and to complement our previous academic training, we were trained in laboratory safety. In particular, Mr Claude Michel Bidlingmeyer and our assistant Emanuele Boni kindly offered a safety course during the bootcamp week which was specifically designed around the techniques that we would later use:

  • Use of centrifuges: how to properly balance samples inside a centrifuge to avoid accidents
  • Use of flames: how to work safely near a flame while maintaining a sterile environment
  • Protection: how to correctly use gowns, gloves and protective goggles
  • Evacuation protocols: how to react to fire or accidents
  • Waste management: how to discard solid and liquid waste, especially contaminated ones.

Thanks to this initial training, we were able to safely operate during our months in the workshop.

Lab rules

During our bootcamp week, in addition to learning the various lab techniques that we would need during the workshop, we spent some time implementing rules that we then followed throughout the summer.

Checklist before leaving the lab in the evening:

  • Check that all electronic equipment is switched off
  • Check that all gas cylinders are properly closed
  • Move the bins with contaminated material under the sinks, so that the cleaning staff could not inadvertently touch any contaminated material
  • Put all chairs back under the tables and put the material in the correct place on the tables
  • Disinfect all tables that have been worked on
  • Check that the incubators were set to the correct timer and temperature
  • Close all windows
  • Turn off all lights

Rules for waste disposal:

  • All contaminated disposable material is placed inside designated bags
  • Each workstation has a miniature rubbish bag to prevent large trips with contaminated material
  • Filled bags are closed with a clamp so that steam from the autoclave can still get inside
  • Contaminated liquids are collected in glass bottles marked 'waste'.
  • Uncontaminated cardboard, glass and plastic are disposed of in designated waste bins
  • All contaminated reusable material is disinfected using an autoclave

Rules for maintaining a sterile environment:

  • No handling of bacterial cells unless under the flame or using gloves
  • Disposable materials (plates, tubes, ...) are always left in their sealed bags to avoid exposure to dust and other surrounding microorganisms
  • Handling of sterile solutions is only done under flame. Bottle neck and cap are disinfected before being closed again

Checklist for the end of the week:

  • Empty all workstation bins
  • Close and take the bin to the autoclave
  • Take all reusable cans and bottles to the autoclave
  • Disinfect all tables
  • Place chairs on the tables

Safe project design

Safety concerns specific to our project included the handling of some chemicals. We consulted the safety data sheets for the following chemicals before using them.

  • Congo red and Coomassie blue dyes for biofilm staining
    Congo red has been identified as a possible carcinogenic agent, and is suspected of having reproductive toxicity. Coomassie blue has been reported to be harmful for aquatic life.
  • Triton™ X-100 for cell lysis

    • Triton™ X-100 presents toxicity and irritation risks.
  • Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride for the SDS-PAGE
  • Phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride presents toxicity and corrosion risks.

All safety precautions have been put in place to minimize harmful effects of these potentially harmful chemicals.

  • IPTG for induction of the genes responsible for the production of the biofilm in our IPTG-inducible design
  • Nile red and Nile blue dye for microplastics staining
  • SYBR™ Safe DNA Gel Stain for electrophoresis

    • IPTG, Nile red, Nile blue and SYBR™ Safe DNA Gel Stain do not present any particular danger in terms of toxicity, they only require regular lab safety procedures (handling with care, wearing gloves and lab coat, appropriate disposal).


    We also took into consideration that the handling of antibiotics had to be done with the necessary precautions. During the course of our project, we used the following antibiotics.

    • Ampicillin
    • Kanamycin
    • Spectinomycin

    We also took into consideration potential safety concerns with regards to the implementation. We have considered the application of our engineered biofilm on filters intended for installation in storm drains or washing machines. We have discussed with several experts about the potential environmental risks linked to GMOs dispersal. Thereby, we reasoned about employing a 'cell-free' system, that is, the biofilm component without the bacterial cells. This ensures that no living organism, nor genetic material is released in the environment, tackling both the risk of GMO dispersal and of gene transfer.

    → Read more

    Safe microplastics disposal

    We paid great attention to safety when handling microplastics. Initially, we carefully stored them inside Petri dishes to avoid any possible dispersion into the surrounding environment. Later, when it was necessary to dispose of them, for example after biofilm adhesion tests or during the development phase of staining protocols, we deposited them in specific containers intended for the disposal of contaminated materials. Our top priority has been to ensure responsible handling of microplastics in order to preserve the environment.