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RE: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results
I live in NJ and my mail goes through the same distribution center that
process the famous anthrax letters ( by the way, the distribution center
is
still closed. They haven't figure out how to decontaminate it. Mail is
currently being distributed through a "temporary" distribution center)
There was huge backlog of mail ( over 800,00 pieces) that were in the
building when the anthrax was discovered that was eventually delivered
after
being decontaminated by an "Irradiation" process. Judging by the
processed
mail I received ( sealed in plastic bags with warnings printed on it) I
believe they are using some kind of microwave radiation which can
generate a
fair amount of heat. All the envelopes had a "toasted" look to them and
were very brittle. Any plastic showed signs of severe heat stress. I
received replacement credit cards that were severely discolored, and
unusable. The raised numbers and letters had melted back into the flat
surface.
I also work at ABC-TV in NYC and we had one incident of anthrax
contamination here when the child of a person working in the News dept.
developed a case of cutaneous anthrax ( curiously, the source was never
found. no threatening letters were ever sent here) As a result, all
incoming mail is now irradiated. And again, all the mail has a toasted
look. Any data CD's or floppies show signs of severe heat stress.
Again, I
believe they are using microwave radiation not alpha, beta or gamma type
radiation.
This may not be very scientific but I though it would be of interest.
Charles Repka
> Results we reported for CD discs were based on tests
> conducted in close
> coordination with the USPS and with one of the companies that
> irradiate
> mail under contract to the USPS. Electron beam energy and dose were
> comparable to those now in use for that purpose.
>
> Information from Mr. Brothers is somewhat confusing. It seems to be
> second-hand and third-hand information, and is not confirmed by the
> controlled experiments we just reported. Media Sciences is
> not aware of
> any irradiation of mail that melts package contents,
> including CD discs
> and jewel cases? When did this irradiation occur? Was it U.S. mail or
> did it go through a different postal system?
>
> J. Hartke
>
> Peter Brothers wrote:
> >
> > Tape, as well as discs are being damaged by the irradiation
> now being
> > used
> > on mail.
> >
> > After giving a presentation at the National Archives in DC
> on disaster
> > recovery of magnetic tapes, I was approached by a
> government employee
> > who
> > asked if irradiation is likely to damage magnetic tape. I mentally
> > reviewed
> > the studies that have been done by various agencies and industries
> over
> > the
> > years and answered, as most experts would, "No, irradiation is not
> > likely to
> > seriously damage magnetic tape". And, unless someone does something
> > that
> > most experts wouldn't consider because it is obviously
> ridiculous, the
> > answer was correct.
> >
> > Of course, this government agency had recently received a number of
> > magnetic
> > recordings through the mail that had been melted.
> >
> > It was once safe to take magnetic media through airport security.
> They
> > have
> > now added magnetic wands that can erase media. Irradiation has been
> > used in
> > the past to kill fungus on media. They now irradiate in such a way
> and
> > with
> > such intensities that it melts the media. Another method rumored to
> be
> > under consideration for treating media, on site, that is
> suspected of
> > anthrax contamination is a 50% chlorine solution. I'm no
> > microbiologist, so
> > I can't fairly evaluate if this would kill the spores. I
> do know of a
> > number of media, however, that don't stand a chance of surviving the
> > treatment.
> >
> > So, yes, there are a number of instances where media has
> actually been
> > melted by the irradiation now being used on letters and envelopes.
> > Strangely enough, unless they have changed the policy recently, they
> are
> > only irradiating envelopes- not boxes. Go figure. I guess they
> assume
> > anthrax spores don't like boxes. Until they change the policy, you
> > might
> > want to consider shipping all your media in boxes. It may be more
> > expensive
> > for single units but it's a real pain trying to play back
> melted tapes
> > or
> > discs.
> >
> > Peter Brothers
> > SPECS BROS., LLC
> > Tape and Disc Disaster Recovery
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Charles Repka [mailto:Charles.P.Repka@abc.com]
> > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 8:46 AM
> > To: AV Media Matters
> > Subject: RE: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results
> >
> > But the heat generated by other sterilization processes will
> absolutely
> > fry
> > the discs. We have received a number of (promotional) CD
> here in our
> > office
> > that had been run through a sterilization process. The
> discs heavily
> > discolored and warped beyond recognition.
> >
> > Charles Repka
> > >
> > >
> > > Tests conducted by Media Sciences in early 2002 on CD-ROM discs,
> > > recorded CD-R discs, and unrecorded CD-R discs indicate that
> electron
> > > beam irradiation of the type used to sterilize U.S. mail does
> > > not impair
> > > media interchange. See http://www.mscience.com/faq29.html.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > J. Hartke
> > > Media Sciences, Inc.
>
>
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