title: Safe biotechnology. 7. Classification of microorganisms on the basis of hazard. Working Party "Safety in Biotechnology" of the European Federation Biotechnology.
abstract: The current systems for classifying human pathogens on the basis of hazard are well developed and their basic criteria are in general agreement one with another. Of more importance, the safety practices based on these classifications have generally been successful. They have enabled extensive research activities, medical practice and industrial production to be conducted on an ever-increasing scale, involving dangerous microorganisms (e.g. in vaccine production and treatment of infected patients) with a very low incidence of adverse effects on the workers involved and the general public. Although the EU has adopted a harmonised list of agents in groups 1-4 there is as yet no complete agreement among member states and individual microbiologists. The purpose of this paper is to present a historical survey and to discuss the current processes for identifying and classifying the hazards posed by the use of microorganisms in research and technology. This is essential in the design of appropriate methods of counteracting potential risks.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Applied Microbiology, University for Agriculture, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lelieveld
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chmiel
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Crooy
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doblhoff-Dier
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Economidis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmqvist
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frontali-Botti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Havenaar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haymerle
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Käppeli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leaver
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lex
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mahler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marris
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mosgaard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Normand-Plessier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romantschuk
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000145:classification*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008829:Microbiology / Q000266:history; D012106:Research; D017751:Safety Management / Q000266:history; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances