Biosafety and Biosecurity

Researchers working in laboratories are often exposed to hazardous materials, which can harm their health and well-being. Biosafety and biosecurity are essential measures implemented to protect the environment and individuals from biohazards. Though they are similar, there are some key differences between biosafety and biosecurity.

Biosafety protects researchers in laboratories from exposure to biohazards, which are biological substances that are unsafe for living organisms to be around. Biosafety details how to properly handle biohazards, as well as how to dispose of them. Biological substances are given a “Biosafety Level” from one to four, with level one assigned to substances that are highly unlikely to cause diseases, and level four assigned to substances that have a high chance of transmitting life-threatening diseases to researchers. Each level has dedicated labs, where individuals will work with substances of the corresponding level. By giving potentially hazardous substances levels, researchers know what safety protocols to follow and what protection gear to wear. Additionally, to safely dispose of biohazards, set rules for each substance that must be followed. Biosafety as a whole reduces the risk biohazards pose to researchers in laboratories and plays an important part in keeping the environment safe.

Meanwhile, biosecurity procedures help to preserve biological materials, detailing how to safely handle and store them. Letting invasive species out could severely harm the environment, economy, and ecosystem by exposing native species to diseases and disrupting the food chain. Biohazards can harm human, plant, and animal health, so biosecurity also protects living organisms from the danger biohazards present, similar to biosafety. Biosecurity procedures are commonly carried out in farms, where diseases pose the most risk to livestock and crops. For example, new animals are quarantined, and certain measures are enacted so that waste is disposed of in a way that lowers the risk of disease. Biosecurity measures are also present in hospitals and healthcare, preventing those who are infected from spreading diseases to others. Furthermore, biosecurity prevents the misuse of biological substances; exploiting biohazards could lead to biological warfare, which involves purposely killing humans, animals, or plants through biohazards. Biosecurity is important in keeping the environment, animals, and humans safe.

Overall, biosafety and biosecurity are essential in protecting human health and the environment. They protect researchers from potential risks and prevent the outbreak of diseases, proving to be an effective way to conduct research safely.

References:

“Biosecurity.” State.mn.us, 2024, www.bah.state.mn.us/biosecurity.

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Iberdrola. “Biosafety: Crucial in the Fight against Pandemics.” Iberdrola, www.iberdrola.com/innovation/what-is-biosafety.

Mandal, Ananya. “What Is Biosecurity?” News-Medical.net, 1 Nov. 2010, www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Biosecurity.aspx.

State, Louisiana. “Biosafety and Biosecurity.” Lsu.edu, 2020, lsu.edu/ehs/research-safety/biosafety.php#. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Trapotsis, Arthur. “Biosafety Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 | What’s the Difference?” Consolidated Sterilizer Systems, 11 Mar. 2022, consteril.com/biosafety-levels-difference/.

Zibell, Jon. “Understanding Biosafety and Biosecurity.” Scishield.com, 2024, www.scishield.com/community-hub/understanding-biosafety-and-biosecurity#. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.