Check Your Understanding
- What is the scientific method?
Introduction
There are some very serious safety risks in scientific research. Research can involve many
different kinds of risks. Yet, if science were as dangerous as some horror movies make it look,
not many people would become scientists. Since the life sciences deal with living organisms,
some research may have risks not found in other fields. Safety practices are needed to work
with any potentially hazardous situation, such as:
- pathogenic (disease-causing) viruses, bacteria or fungi
- parasites
- wild animals
- radioactive materials
- pollutants in air, water, or soil
- toxins
- teratogens
- carcinogens
- radiation
The kinds of risks that scientists face depend on the kind of research they perform. For
example, a bacteriologist working with bacteria in a laboratory faces different risks than
a zoologist studying the behavior of lions in Africa. Think back to the deformed frogs
discussed earlier, the ones in the pond with extra limbs or extra eyes. If there is something
in the frogs’ environment causing these deformities, could there be a risk to a researcher
in that environment? A chemical in the pond that could cause such deformities is called a
”teratogen.” Or perhaps a disease is causing the deformities. Infectious agents such as viruses
and bacteria are calledbiohazards(Figure1.26). Biohazards include any material such as
medical waste that could possibly transmit an infectious disease. A used hypodermic needle
or a vial of bacteria are both biohazards.
Laboratory Safety
Most laboratories are safe places to visit. If you plan to work in a scientific laboratory, ask
someone to tell you about the safety rules they are required to follow. Scientists must follow
regulations set by federal, state, and private institutions. For example, scientists cannot
work with hazardous materials or equipment without:
- Getting approval to do the specific research.