IN ITS Jan. 7 editorial “BU biolab’s passing grade on risk evaluation should reassure skeptics,” the Globe seems to be satisfied with the assurances from National Institutes of Health scientists that the Boston University biolab on Albany Street in the South End does not pose a significant danger to the community. Furthermore, the Globe is much too willing to dismiss the concerns of neighbors, like me, who strongly oppose the plans to permit research on dangerous biological agents.

Although reasonable and sufficient safeguards may be in place to avert an accidental catastrophe, the risk of criminal or terrorist threats was not adequately addressed in the NIH analysis. According to the NIH report, “Malevolent acts were not considered. . . because the potential number of scenarios is limitless and the likelihood of attack is unknowable.”