Anthrax Sampling and Decontamination: Technology Trade-Offs

Price, Phillip N.; Hamachi, Kristina S.; McWilliams, Jennifer A.; Sohn, Michael D.

doi:10.2172/948503

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 29 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…Two other articles have been published since then that provide overviews of decontamination approaches for B. anthracis. 3,15 While these previous review articles provide helpful, qualitative summaries of decontamination approaches and operational aspects that could be employed after a release of B. anthracis spores, they generally lack detailed data to document the conditions in which the decontaminants are effective. This current review highlights the scientific and technological advances made relative to B. anthracis spore decontamination technologies since these initial reviews, that is, from approximately 2002, and identifies knowledge gaps.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A few years following the Amerithrax incident, a review of B. anthracis spore inactivation techniques and a compilation of building decontamination alternatives were published. Two other articles have been published since then that provide overviews of decontamination approaches for B. anthracis . , While these previous review articles provide helpful, qualitative summaries of decontamination approaches and operational aspects that could be employed after a release of B. anthracis spores, they generally lack detailed data to document the conditions in which the decontaminants are effective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials

Wood

Adrion

2019

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Since the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores through the U.S. Postal Service in the fall of 2001, research and development related to decontamination for this biological agent have increased substantially. This review synthesizes the advances made relative to B. anthracis spore decontamination science and technology since approximately 2002, referencing the open scientific literature and publicly available, well-documented scientific reports. In the process of conducting this review, scientific knowledge gaps have also been identified. This review focuses primarily on techniques that are commercially available and that could potentially be used in the large-scale decontamination of buildings and other structures, as well as outdoor environments. Since 2002, the body of scientific data related to decontamination and microbial sterilization has grown substantially, especially in terms of quantifying decontamination effcacy as a function of several factors. Specifically, progress has been made in understanding how decontaminant chemistry, the materials the microorganisms are associated with, environmental factors, and microbiological methods quantitatively impact spore inactivation. While advancement has been made in the past 15 years to further the state of the science in the inactivation of bacterial spores in a decontamination scenario, further research is warranted to close the scientific gaps that remain.

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Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials

Wood

Adrion

2019

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…The decontamination and cleanup of the 2001 attack sites produced extensive quantities of potentially contaminated wastes, including material removed from the buildings such as office furniture, computers, printers, carpets, draperies, wallboard, and ceiling panels as well as all personal protective equipment used in the decontamination process (Canter et al, 2009;Price et al, 2008). Some debris was incinerated and some was shipped to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D solid waste landfills for final disposition (Canter et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Limitations in sampling and analytical methods for viable B. anthracis spores further compound the disposal issue (Canter et al, 2009;Price et al, 2008). For example, wipe samples may not be representative of the entire building and hot spots may be missed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal inactivation of Bacillus anthracis surrogate spores in a bench-scale enclosed landfill gas flare

Tufts

Rosati

2012

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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A bench-scale landfill flare system was designed and built to test the potential for landfilled biological spores that migrate from the waste into the landfill gas to pass through the flare and exit into the environment as viable. The residence times and temperatures of the flare were characterized and compared to full-scale systems. Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus atrophaeus, nonpathogenic spores that may serve as surrogates for Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent for anthrax, were investigated to determine whether these organisms would be inactivated or remain viable after passing through a simulated landfill flare. High concentration spore solutions were aerosolized, dried, and sent through a bench-scale system to simulate the fate of biological weapon (BW)-grade spores in a landfill gas flare. Sampling was conducted downstream of the flare using a bioaerosol collection device containing sterile white mineral oil. The samples were cultured, incubated for seven days, and assessed for viability. Results showed that the bench-scale system exhibited good similarity to the real-world conditions of an enclosed standard combustor flare stack with a single orifice, forced-draft diffusion burner. All spores of G. stearothermophilus and B. atrophaeus were inactivated in the flare, indicating that spores that become re-entrained in landfill gas may not escape the landfill as viable, apparently becoming completely inactivated as they exit through a landfill flare.

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“…such as Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, can persist in the environment for decades (6), thereby presenting an ongoing risk of infection that can prevent the reoccupation of contaminated areas unless costly decontamination processes are undertaken (7,8). Other biological agents, such as Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of pneumonic plague, are highly infectious; hence the risk to the public can spread far beyond the original site of dissemination (9).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%