5.1.1Tools
Safety, Ethical and Environmental Issues in Biology — IB Biology HL Revision Notes & Topical Questions
5 min read 4 parts Lesson 2 of 10
Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
Section 1 of 4Safety in the Laboratory and Field
Risk assessment
- Risk assessment Before starting, list each hazard, decide how likely and how serious harm would be,
- and plan precautions such as gloves, goggles or a fume cupboard.
Hazard symbols
- Hazard symbols Standard pictograms on labels show hazards such as corrosive, flammable, toxic, irritant, health hazard, oxidising and hazardous to the environment.
Microorganisms
- Microorganisms Aseptic technique, sterilised equipment and sealed cultures prevent harmful microbes from growing or escaping;
- plates are not opened to culture human pathogens.
Sharp and hot items
- Sharp and hot items Scalpels, glassware and hot water baths need careful handling,
- and dissection tools must be used on a stable surface and cut away from the body.
Fieldwork
- Fieldwork Outdoor work needs checks of weather, terrain, allergies and water hazards, and students should work in pairs and tell staff where they are.
Section 2 of 4Ethical Considerations
Ethical Considerations
Human participants
- Human participants Experiments such as measuring heart rate after exercise need informed consent, the right to withdraw,
- and suitable screening for health problems.
Confidentiality
- Confidentiality Personal data from participants must be kept private and presented anonymously.
Animals
- Animals Animals should be used only if there is no alternative, applying the 3Rs: replace with other methods, reduce numbers and refine procedures to limit suffering.
Invertebrates and plants
- Invertebrates and plants Even where regulations are fewer, organisms should be handled with care and returned to their habitat afterwards.
Justification
- Justification The expected scientific value of the work must outweigh any harm to people or animals.
Section 3 of 4Environmental Responsibility
1
Choose sampling sites and methods that will not damage habitats, for example by trampling vegetation or removing too many organisms.
2
Take only the number of specimens required, record the exact location, and return living organisms to where they were found.
3
Avoid introducing non-native species or spreading disease between sites by cleaning boots and equipment.
4
Dispose of chemicals and biological waste correctly, for example by disinfecting cultures before disposal, so nothing reaches drains or soil.
5
Review the whole plan and consider whether a less harmful method, such as a simulation or non-destructive sampling, could give the same data.
| Issue | Example | Management |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Pathogenic bacteria | Aseptic technique, no human pathogens |
| Ethical | Exercise test on students | Informed consent, right to withdraw |
| Environmental | Quadrat sampling in a meadow | Limit trampling, take no specimens |
Section 4 of 4Exam Checklist & Tips
5.1.1 – Key Points for the Exam
- Risk assessment The process of identifying hazards and deciding on precautions.
- Informed consent Agreement given by a participant who understands the procedure and its risks.
- 3Rs Replace, reduce and refine: principles for minimising the use of animals.
- Aseptic technique Methods that prevent contamination by unwanted microorganisms.
Common Mistakes
- Treating a risk assessment as only a list of hazards, without saying how the risk is reduced.
- Thinking that ethical issues apply only to experiments on animals and not to human volunteers.
- Ignoring environmental harm from fieldwork, such as trampling or collecting specimens.
- Stating a precaution without linking it to a specific hazard.
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