Pseudomonas aeruginosa - information sheet 

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Strain ATCC 31480
Strain ATCC 700370
Strain ATCC 700371

Updated June 19, 2021:

The Final Screening Assessment for the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 was published in June 2012 under the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). The assessment is summarized in this information sheet has not changed. The section in this information sheet entitled "Preventive actions and reducing risk" communicates updates in risk management activities, namely:

• A proposed amendment to the Domestic Substances List (DSL) to rescind the requirements under the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371.

On this page

• Overview
• About these organisms
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Screening assessment conclusions
• Preventive actions and reducing risk
• Related information

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducted a science-based evaluation, called a screening assessment, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371.
• The risk posed by an organism is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure to people and the environment. An organism may have hazardous properties; however, the risk to human health or to the environment may be low if the level of exposure is low. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are opportunistic human pathogens that are reported to cause infections in healthy individuals and have been implicated in numerous chronic and progressive respiratory diseases. These strains are not in commerce in Canada and at current levels of exposure, it is concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are not harmful to human health or to the environment.

About these organisms

• The screening assessment summarized here focused on three (3) organisms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371.
• These Priority A (higher hazard) organisms were assessed as part of the micro-organisms initiative of the CMP.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are bacteria that could have a number of consumer, commercial and industrial uses.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 have characteristics in common with other strains of the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are found in nature.
• The characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 make them suitable for use in various applications including waste degradation, particularly in oil refineries, and also in the textile, pulp and paper, mining and explosives industries. They are also suitable for use in commercial and household drain cleaners and degreasers, septic tank additives, general cleaning products and odour-control products.
• According to information gathered by the Government, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are used only in research and development.

Human and ecological exposures

• Canadians are not expected to be exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371, nor are these organisms expected to be released into the Canadian environment, because they are no longer in commerce.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• Strains of the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa are opportunistic human pathogens that are reported to cause infections in healthy individuals and have been implicated in numerous chronic and progressive respiratory diseases.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a wide variety of enzymes and toxins that are important factors for its ability to cause illness/infection/disease in susceptible humans.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa has the ability to spread and acquire antibiotic resistance genes which may compromise the effectiveness of antibiotics that are currently used for the treatment of infections.
• Some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa may sometimes cause illness or infection or adverse effects in a range of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates, for example, when the host has been stressed or weakened by another factor.

Risk assessment outcomes

• Based on the information presented, the risk to human health from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 is low, because they are no longer in commerce in Canada.
• Also, considering all information presented, there is low risk of harm to organisms and the broader integrity of the environment from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371.
• The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, 700370 and 700371 on June 9, 2012

Screening assessment conclusions

• The Government concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are not harmful to human health at current levels of exposure.
• The Government also concluded that Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are not entering the environment at levels that may be harmful to the environment.

Preventive actions and reducing risk

• To protect the general population from exposure, SNAc provisions were put in place to require that the Government be notified of and assess any new activity with these organisms before it could be undertaken.
• In 2015, the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA), and its Regulations (HPTR) came into force. Given that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 are classified by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as risk group 2 (RG 2, moderate individual risk, low community risk) human pathogens, anyone wishing to conduct controlled activities involving human pathogens must obtain a license from PHAC and conditions of the license limit controlled activities to a containment level 2 laboratory or facility.
• Should activities using these strains commence in Canada, they would be subject to HPTR licensing requirements. Conditions of the license are expected to prevent human and environmental exposure Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371. As such, no further action will be taken under CEPA
• The Government is proposing to rescind the requirements under the SNAc provisions for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 and will take no further action under CEPA 1999 while they remain subject to requirements for RG 2 pathogens under the HPTA and HPTR.
• In June 2021, a notice of intent to amend the DSL to rescind the requirements under the SNAc provisions for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 was published in the Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 155, No. 25 as a result of the Government's review of current SNAc orders and notices. This publication has a 60-day public comment period ending September 17, 2021. Current SNAc requirements remain in effect until the final order is published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Related information

• The screening assessment for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains ATCC 31480, ATCC 700370 and ATCC 700371 focused on potential risks of exposure to the general population of Canada, rather than occupational exposure. Hazards related to organism used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. For information concerning workplace health and safety, Canadians should consult their employer and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulator in their jurisdiction for information on what steps to take in the workplace.
• For a listing of Risk Group classifications of biological agents in Canada, visit ePATHogen - Risk Group Database. Please contact PHAC.licence-permis.ASPC@canada.ca for further information