Final answer:
When dealing with BSL-1 or BSL-2 agents, which are level 1 or 2 toxicity levels, the use of personal protective equipment such as lab coats, gloves, eye protection, and biohazard warning signage is necessary. BSL-2 in particular requires additional biosafety cabinets and autoclaving procedures for decontamination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed when dealing with a level 1 or 2 toxicity level, which in biosafety terms refers to BSL-1 or BSL-2, does not correspond to Level A, B, or C specifically because these levels are more related to chemical exposure than biological. However, key factors in determining the required level of biocontainment include the agent's infectivity, ease of transmission, potential disease severity, and the nature of the work conducted with the agent. For BSL-2, which deals with microbes or infectious agents that pose moderate risk to laboratory workers and are typically indigenous, precautions include biohazard warning signage, use of personal protective equipment such as lab coats, gloves, and eye protection, and practices like hand washing and accidental spill procedures are required.
Also, laboratories working with BSL-2 agents require containment equipment such as biosafety cabinets for procedures that may cause the infectious aerosols. Procedures such as autoclaving are used for decontaminating waste, and there are specific protocols for handling sharp objects to prevent injuries that could lead to exposure. When dealing with potential exposure to infectious materials, PPE such as lab coats, gloves, and protective goggles should always be employed.