Are Biological Toxins Being Used in Your Laboratories?
Biological toxins are poisonous substances produced by certain microorganisms, animals, insects, and plants. They can be harmful when inhaled, ingested, injected, or absorbed.
Biological toxins cause diverse toxic effects that can range from relatively minor (skin or eye irritation, headache, nausea) to severe (respiratory distress, muscle weakness, seizures, death). Many biological toxins are highly toxic or fatal even in small quantities (e.g., nanogram amounts) and they are often more toxic than many chemicals.
Numerous biological toxins have been identified with nine of them being on the HHS and USDA Select Agents and Toxins List that includes biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to both human and animal health, to plant health, or to animal and plant products.
These include botulinum neurotoxins, abrin, paralytic alpha conotoxins, diacetoxyscirpenol, ricin, saxitoxin, staphylococcal enterotoxins (subtypes A–E), T-2 toxin, and tetrodotoxin. Biological toxins on the select agent list require registration with the Federal […]
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSCs) serve two main purposes: protecting employees from the biological material being handled and preventing contamination of the work being conducted. However, improper use of BSCs can result in a decreased ability of the cabinets to provide personnel protection and prevent contamination. With proper planning and by following appropriate work practices, BSC performance can be maximized to protect the researcher and their work.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) has specific requirements for the collection and management of universal waste. These requirements can be found in 
The fifth annual OSHA Safe + Sound Week is being held from August 9-15, 2021. This is the perfect time to start planning! This national event is intended to promote the value of workplace health and safety programs. Employers are encouraged to hold events and activities that highlight the elements of their EHS program during this week.
For Category 2 MWRA permit holders, semi-annual wastewater sampling for the January through June sampling period must be conducted by June 30th. Reports, including pH and flow logs, are due by July 31st.
