Could Irradiation Kill Anthrax?

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

Could Irradiation Kill Anthrax?  



ABC News Oct 19 Experts say it's not easy to kill anthrax. But one California 

company thinks it has a solution.  



As fears build over the spread of anthrax through the postal system, debate is 

emerging over whether the bacteria can be killed before it causes any harm. 

Suggestions on how to decontaminate mail range from microwaving to household 

irons. In a laboratory setting, bacteria and bacterial spores are routinely killed with 

bleach, or by exposure to extremely high heat in what is called an autoclave. 

But many experts agree that there is very little, if anything, you can do to kill bacteria 

short of destroying your mail. 

"Steam irons are not going to get you where you need to be," said Dr. John Clements 

of Tulane University in New Orleans. 

Can Irradiation Kill Anthrax? 

There is a technology that certain companies believe will kill anthrax ” irradiation. 

Titan Corp. suggests its irradiation technology, currently used to kill harmful bacteria 

in foods such as meats, eggs and fresh produce, could be used to kill anthrax. The 

item in question is bombarded with electrons that kill bacteria. 

When asked if use against anthrax was feasible, Clements said, "In theory, you could 

because radiation kills [anthrax] spores." 

The company estimates that it would cost approximately one penny per letter to 

decontaminate mail. It added that irradiation works on everything except electronics, 

which could be damaged by the process. 

Another company, Aramsco, is offering a decontamination service using gamma 

rays. It is sending out mail from clients to be irradiated by an anonymous company 

that normally uses the process on food. 

"Anthrax is very easy to kill with irradiation," said Aramsco President Dave Naylor. 

How It Works 

In Titan's irradiation technology, ordinary electricity is used to create a beam of 

electrons. These electrons are accelerated and "shot" at the item to be sterilized. The 

beam that is generated is capable of penetrating the target up to a depth of 1 foot. 

If the object being decontaminated is larger, X-rays can be used. The same electron 

beam is directed at a metal target, which generates X-rays. The X-rays are then 

capable of penetrating up to several feet. 

Both the electron beam and the X-rays have the effect of breaking up the DNA of the 

bacteria almost instantly. This causes immediate death in most cases, and those 

bacteria that survive are incapable of multiplying. 

"Whether it's a package of medical equipment, or a package of hamburger, or 

whether it's an envelope with anthrax in it, it kills the bacteria inside," said Titan CEO 

Gene Ray. 

The material sent out by Aramsco is exposed to a cobalt source that generates 

gamma rays. Cobalt is a radioactive substance that emits gamma rays, which are 

high-energy waves that are often used to treat cancer, and sterilize food. 

A More Familiar Form of Irradiation Might Work 

Lambda Technologies in North Carolina believes that microwaves can kill the anthrax 

bacteria. The process would involve exposing mail to microwaves in large industrial 

sized machines. 

These machines are not like your microwave at home. These machines use what is 

known as variable frequency microwave technology. This allows them to tune the 

machine to obtain the most efficient killing. The technology also eliminates arching, 

or sparks, that form when metal is put in conventional microwave ovens. 

According to Howard Reisner, an immunologist at the University of North Carolina at 

Chapel Hill, it has been reported by several sources that microwaves can kill bacteria 

and bacterial spores. 

Is it Safe? 

Many people are concerned about safety when they hear the term irradiation. One 

fear is that the food itself will become radioactive. According to the Food and Drug 

Administration), "Irradiation does not make foods radioactive, just as an airport 

luggage scanner does not make luggage radioactive." 

Another concern that people express is that irradiation will mutate bacteria, and 

create even more harmful forms. "There is no evidence that mutants that may be 

produced by irradiation are any more virulent than the parent microorganism; in fact, 

the opposite is more likely to be the case," according to the FDA. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle				Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   

Director, Technical			Extension 2306

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service	Fax:(714) 668-3149 	           

ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.		E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  	E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com   

Costa Mesa, CA 92626                    



Personal Website: http://sandyfl.nukeworker.net

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com





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