NCJ Number
195357
Date Published
April 2002
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This document identifies the technologies that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is currently using to sanitize the mail against biological weapons.
Abstract
The anthrax crisis in the United States Postal Service (USPS) in December 6, 2001 has prompted an inquiry into the use of some technologies to sanitize mail against biological weapons. In this incident, approximately 1.8 million pieces of mail required decontamination. Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Inhalation is almost always deadly if not treated early and effectively. Ionizing radiation has emerged as the leading current technology for mail sanitization. This technology is commonly used for sterilizing medical products; preparing food for human consumption by reducing the bacterial contamination of meat, poultry, eggs, and vegetables; and delaying the ripening or sprouting of fresh fruit to control insects and parasites in foods. Ionizing radiation can also decontaminate biological weapons such as anthrax when sufficient dosages are used. Two forms of ionizing radiation that can be used to sanitize mail are electron beam (e-beam) and x-ray. E-beams provide high-volume mail sanitization, but have limited penetration; it is not effective for large packages. X-rays can penetrate deeper than e-beams, but they are not as efficient. Ionizing radiation may have adverse effects on mailed materials, such as the scorching of paper products. It may not be directly applicable to some types of mail such as parcels, boxes, and large packages. Applying ionizing radiation (irradiation) in a mail-processing environment requires taking radiation and biohazard precautions, such as shielding the radiation source with concrete vaults and wearing protective gear if there are known contaminants. Two of the many issues that must be addressed to expand the use of ionizing radiation technology are assessing how the USPS will integrate this technology with the current mail-processing equipment; and the technology’s associated costs, schedule, benefits, and risks.