BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

health hazards
associated with
exposure to
biological agents
Definitions

Biohazard organisms or products of

organisms that present a risk to humans
Organism a living thing, such as a germ,
plant, animal, or human that may consist of
several parts, with each part specializing in a
particular function
Microorganism a minute organism, such as
microbes, bacteria, cocci, viruses, molds, etc.
Development of Biosafety
Army at Fort Detrick Frederick, Maryland
Researching biological warfare agents
1941 Chemical Warfare Services
American Society of Microbiology served as advisors to CWS
1970s Recombinant DNA technology
1980s - Appearance of HIV
1991 OSHAs Bloodborne Pathogens Program (29
CFR 1910.1030)
RECENT INCREASED AWARENESS
OF BIOHAZARDS

Newest subset of focus

Contributing to awareness
Legionnaires disease
AIDS epidemic
rDNA technology
anthrax
Specialists exist but their
numbers are small
S/H/E professionals have
become involved
Occupational hazards
Healthcare
Hepatitis, tuberculosis, infections
Infections categorized as:
Community acquired transmitted to either patients or workers
Occupationally acquired resulting from worker exposure
Nosocomial hospital-acquired infections of patients

Research facilities
Q fever, hepatitis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, dermatomycosis
Percutaneous inoculation (needles/syringes, cuts or abrasions from contaminated items, and animal bites/scratches); inhalation of aerosols,
contact between mucous membranes and contaminated material (hands and surfaces), and ingestion

Agriculture
Workers may be exposed to infectious microorganisms that are associated with the plants or animals
Food and grain handlers, farmers, laborers may be exposed to parasitic diseases
Processors who handle animal products may acquire bacterial skin diseases from working with contaminated hides, infected with
contaminated fish, meat or poultry, Bacterial infections from exposure to feces from infected turkeys, geese, ducks, etc.

Animal facilities/Veterinary practices

Bites, scratches, parasites, diseases, allergens

Biotechnology facilities
Genetically engineered bacteria, fungi, plant and animal cells for development of products

Miscellaneous occupations
Workers maintaining water systems (legionella); pet shops; zoos; wood-processing facilities (fungi); sewage workers (bacteria, virus, parasites);
forestry workers (Rocky Mountain spotted fever, lyme disease, viruses and bacteria from ticks, fungi); child care workers (bacteria (shingles),
viruses (measles, chickenpox); public safety workers (bloodborne pathogens, viral respiratory diseases (influenza).
Biohazards are
Inherently different
from chemicals,
physical agents,
carcinogens, etc.
BUT, recognition,
evaluation and control
still can be applied
 Biological materials typically..

Have no threshold level of exposure, i.e., dose and

response relationship
Are ubiquitous in the environment so the idea of
permissible exposure limits is inappropriate
Are affected by biological competition rather than
behaving in an additive or synergistic way
Interact with the host and its environment to
produce the adverse effects
 For illness to occur..

The agent must be pathogenic.

There must be a reservoir of sufficient
number.
The agent must escape the reservoir.
The organism must be able to move
through the environment.
There must be a portal of entry for the host.
The host must be susceptible to the agent.
Factors affecting infection and
exposure
Modes of transmission
Contact (direct/indirect, zoonotic); vector-borne, airborne
Routes of entry
Infectious dose (infective dose)
Number of microorganism
Viability and virulence of agent
Viability - Ability to replicate
Virulence Ability to cause disease
Host susceptibility
Skin disorders, immune system, vaccination allergy, infection
of fetus, work practices
Classification of Biohazards
Microorganisms
Examples: viruses, bacteria,
fungi, protozoa, algae
Reactions: infection, exposure,
allergic reactions
Arthropods
Examples: crustaceans,
arachnids, insects
Reactions: skin inflammation,
allergic reactions, systemic
intoxication, transmission of
infectious agents
Allergens
Examples: from higher plants
Reactions: Dermatitis, rhinitis,
asthma
Protein Allergens
Examples: vertebrate animals
(urine, feces, hair, saliva, dander)
Reactions: allergic reactions
Parasites
Examples: ticks, hookworms,
pinworms
Reactions: skin reaction,
inflammatory response, allergic
reaction
Some common biological agents

Bacteria
Viruses
Rickettsiae
Fungi
Parasites
 BACTERIA

Simple, one-celled
organisms
Cocci, bacilli, spirilla
Some are pathogenic,
some are harmless, some
are even useful
Broken skin is particularly
vulnerable
Food poisoning in mass
VIRUSES

Smallest known
organisms
Living (?) non-cellular
entities
Are obligate parasites &
cannot survive without
living cells
Common occupational
exposures to animal virus,
poxvirus & arbovirus
 RICKETTSIAE

Bacteria-like but smaller

Are obligate parasites
Transmitted to humans
via bloodsucking
arthropods (fleas, ticks
& lice) or through the air
Responsible for typhus
and Rocky Mountain
spotted fever
FUNGI

Broadest spectrum
among biological agents
Are either parasitic or
saprophytic
Hypersensitivity due to
inhaled fungal antigens
Fungal disease is rare
but includes ringworm &
athletes foot
 PARASITES

Parasitic to plants or
animals
Diseases include
malaria and other
blood and GI infections
Dermatitis and other
skin-related ailments
due to mites and
chiggers, etc.
 Legionnaires Disease

Caused by legionella pneumophila, a bacterium

Presence possible if moisture, elevated temperature,
oxygen and nourishment available
Clearly can be transmitted through air and perhaps
other ways
Symptoms resemble a form of pneumonia and can be
treated accordingly
About 15% of known cases have been fatal
 Tuberculosis (TB)
Bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Some populations are at greater risk
Transmitted by inhalation of infectious droplet nuclei
suspended in air
Symptoms
Early on: fatigue, fever, weight loss
Later: Hoarseness, cough, hemoptysis (blood-tinged sputum),
lesions in respiratory tract
 Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS)

Caused by HIV, a virus

Transmitted via sexual contact, sharing of
needles and transfused blood
Symptoms include tiredness, fever, night
sweats, weight loss
No single test as diagnosis
Treatment (at present) cannot cure or restore
the immune system
 Anthrax

Caused by spore-forming
bacterium Bacillus
anthracis
Found in imported animal
products
Types of anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax
Inhalational anthrax
Gastrointestinal anthrax
 Cutaneous Anthrax

Most common naturally

occurring infection

Incubation period of 1-12 days

Symptoms:
small, raised bump
ulcer with black center
fever, headache, malaise
 Inhalational Anthrax

Most lethal form

Incubation period of 1-7 and
possible 60 days
Symptoms:
sore throat, fever, muscles aches
respiratory failure and shock
Fatality rate of approximately 75%
 Gastrointestinal Anthrax

Follows consumption of raw or

undercooked meat
Incubation period of 1-7days
Symptoms:
sore throat, fever
loss of appetite
nausea & vomiting

Fatality rate between 25%-60%

 SUMMARY

A tremendous variety of biological materials

exists as potential exposure agents.
Effects of bio-hazardous agents are subtle
and slow in developing.
There is increasing concern about, and
interest in, biological materials.
Bottom-line: biohazards are (and must be)
treated with extraordinary caution.