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RE: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results
I have been following this thread - and I really wondered about all this
- I thought that the 3 types of radiaton that I would consider for
irradiating spores would be Gamma, Xray and electron beam. I thought
that these three would have a pretty good chance of irradiatig spores
and actually making them inert. Then I read this tonight - and thought
to myself - now I am NOT a microbiologist - BUT I thought - now WHY
would they use microwaves other then some salesperson selling them on
that - would a microwave actually kill spores. I don't think so. It just
did not make sense to me. And using Gamma or electrons just make so much
more sense certainly on a production basis. I read the initial post and
thought - no way could they use Gamma, Xray, or Electron Beams and get
enough heat to toast anything no less a CD - not ulnless there was so
much radiation - well i don't want to think about THAT much. Then I
thought maybe they used heat with any of these three. But it still does
not make sense. Evidentally it may not work either, but the public may
feel better about things. Well for what it is worth - here is a short
citation of interest - well at least of interest to me!
http://www.rppi.org/anthrax1.html
So they may be toasting the mail - but I don't think that they are doing
much to any spores that are hanging around in it after all!
James Lindner
Moderator: AV Media Matters Listserve
To subscribe to AV Media Matters Listserve send an email to:
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James Lindner
Moderator: AV Media Matters Listserve
To subscribe to AV Media Matters Listserve send an email to:
AV-Media-Matters-subscribe@topica.com
Charles Repka wrote:
> 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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