New decontamination system kills anthrax rapidly without lingering effects

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GTRI research scientists Brent Wagner and Hisham Menkara optimized a UV-C phosphor for use in a flat panel system with X-rays that can kill anthrax spores in two to three hours without any lingering effects. Credit: Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek
GTRI research scientists Brent Wagner and Hisham Menkara optimized a UV-C phosphor for use in a flat panel system with X-rays that can kill anthrax spores in two to three hours without any lingering effects. Credit: Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek

In October 2001, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices and two U.S. senators, killing five people and infecting 17 others. Clearing the Senate office building of the spores with chlorine dioxide gas cost $27 million, according to the Government Accountability Office. Cleaning the Brentwood postal facility outside Washington cost $130 million and took 26 months.


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