Re: [AV Media Matters] New Test Results

[jhartke@mscience.com]

As we point out in our faq, electron beam irradiation is used.

J. Hartke

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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