Assessment of Environmentally Benign Decontaminant Towards Anthrax Spores
Abstract
In recent years, production and storage of CBW agents in large quantities by a number of rogue nations and extremist groups have raised the probability of their use in armed conflicts and against civilian populations around the world. While the CW agents include nerve agents, G-type and Vtype, and blistering agents such as mustard gas; the BW agents include pathogenic viruses, bacterial cells, dormant spores, and protein-based toxins. The current decontaminant used by first responders and the US armed forces is not environmentally friendly. Consequently, development of alternative decontaminants is urgently needed. Three environmentally benign decontaminant formulations, two based on hydrogen peroxide and a third based on hypochlorite, have recently been developed for CW agents. We were interested in evaluating these formulations against BW agents in a quest to develop environmentally benign CBW decontaminants. In this study, these formulations were evaluated against Bacillus anthracis (NNRD1 strain) spores. While, both peroxide-based formulations resulted in a 7-log reduction in spore viability, the hypochloritebased formulation was much less effective. These results provide support for continued efforts in a quest for the development of an environmentally benign universal CBW decontaminant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA435999
Entities
People
- Abe Turetsky
- George Wagner
- Phillip Bartram
- Tu-chen Cheng
- Vipin K. Rastogi