Editing Anthrax (section)

=== Site cleanup ===
Anthrax spores can survive for very long periods of time in the environment after release. Chemical methods for cleaning anthrax-contaminated sites or materials may use [[oxidizing agent]]s such as [[peroxides]], [[ethylene oxide]], Sandia Foam,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/dnl-sdf042607.php |title=Sandia decon formulation, best known as an anthrax killer, takes on household mold |date=26 April 2007 |access-date=13 August 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080905212823/http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-04/dnl-sdf042607.php| archive-date= 5 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> chlorine dioxide (used in the [[Hart Senate Office Building]]),<ref name = "Wang_2015">{{cite web | title = The Anthrax Cleanup of Capitol Hill | vauthors = Wang X | work = EPA Alumni Association | url = https://www.epaalumni.org/userdata/pdf/6C70838638374E92.pdf#page=8 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180930034008/https://www.epaalumni.org/userdata/pdf/6C70838638374E92.pdf#page=8 | archive-date= 30 September 2018 | date = 12 May 2015 }}</ref>{{rp|8}} peracetic acid, ozone gas, hypochlorous acid, sodium persulfate, and liquid bleach products containing sodium hypochlorite. Nonoxidizing agents shown to be effective for anthrax decontamination include methyl bromide, formaldehyde, and metam sodium. These agents destroy bacterial spores. All of the aforementioned anthrax decontamination technologies have been demonstrated to be effective in laboratory tests conducted by the US EPA or others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/aboutdecon.html#iodra|title=Remediating Indoor and Outdoor Environments|access-date=10 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013053043/http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/aboutdecon.html#iodra|archive-date=13 October 2013}}</ref>

Decontamination techniques for ''Bacillus anthracis'' spores are affected by the material with which the spores are associated, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, and microbiological factors such as the spore species, anthracis strain, and test methods used.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wood JP, Adrion AC | title = Review of Decontamination Techniques for the Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and Other Spore-Forming Bacteria Associated with Building or Outdoor Materials | journal = Environmental Science & Technology | volume = 53 | issue = 8 | pages = 4045–62 | date = April 2019 | pmid = 30901213 | pmc = 6547374 | doi = 10.1021/acs.est.8b05274 | bibcode = 2019EnST...53.4045W }}</ref>

A bleach solution for treating hard surfaces has been approved by the EPA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ehso.com/bleach.htm |publisher=Society for Applied Microbiology |title=Using Bleach to Destroy Anthrax and Other Microbes |access-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517034547/http://www.ehso.com/bleach.htm |archive-date=17 May 2008 }}</ref> [[Chlorine dioxide]] has emerged as the preferred biocide against anthrax-contaminated sites, having been employed in the treatment of numerous government buildings over the past decade.<ref name="rastogi">{{cite journal | vauthors = Rastogi VK, Ryan SP, Wallace L, Smith LS, Shah SS, Martin GB | title = Systematic evaluation of the efficacy of chlorine dioxide in decontamination of building interior surfaces contaminated with anthrax spores | journal = Applied and Environmental Microbiology | volume = 76 | issue = 10 | pages = 3343–3e51 | date = May 2010 | pmid = 20305025 | pmc = 2869126 | doi = 10.1128/AEM.02668-09 | bibcode = 2010ApEnM..76.3343R }}</ref> Its chief drawback is the need for ''[[in situ]]'' processes to have the reactant on demand.

To speed the process, trace amounts of a nontoxic [[catalyst]] composed of iron and tetroamido macrocyclic [[ligand]]s are combined with [[sodium carbonate]] and [[bicarbonate]] and converted into a spray. The spray formula is applied to an infested area and is followed by another spray containing [[tert-butyl hydroperoxide]].<ref name="Pesticide Disposal Goes Green">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/5581/title/Pesticide_Disposal_Goes_Green |magazine=Science News |title=Pesticide Disposal Goes Green |access-date=8 June 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629214707/http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/5581/title/Pesticide_Disposal_Goes_Green |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref>

Using the catalyst method, complete destruction of all anthrax spores can be achieved in under 30 minutes.<ref name="Pesticide Disposal Goes Green" /> A standard catalyst-free spray destroys fewer than half the spores in the same amount of time.

Cleanups at a Senate Office Building, several contaminated postal facilities, and other US government and private office buildings, a collaborative effort headed by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]]<ref name = "Wang_2015" />{{rp|3}} showed decontamination to be possible, but time-consuming and costly. Clearing the Senate Office Building of anthrax spores cost $27&nbsp;million, according to the Government Accountability Office. Cleaning the Brentwood postal facility in Washington cost $130&nbsp;million and took 26 months. Since then, newer and less costly methods have been developed.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Wessner D, Dupont C, Charles T, Neufeld J|title=Microbiology |date=3 December 2020 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-119-59249-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GzcDEAAAQBAJ&dq=Cleaning+the+Brentwood+postal+facility+in+Washington+cost+%24130+million+and+took+26+months.+Since+then,+newer+and+less+costly+methods+have+been+developed.&pg=PA264 |language=en}}</ref>

Cleanup of anthrax-contaminated areas on ranches and in the wild is much more problematic. Carcasses may be burned,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/01/us/anthrax-expert-faces-fine-for-burning-infected-carcasses.html |title=Anthrax Expert Faces Fine for Burning Infected Carcasses | vauthors = Broad WJ |date=1 March 2002 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226205419/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/01/us/anthrax-expert-faces-fine-for-burning-infected-carcasses.html |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> though often 3 days are needed to burn a large carcass and this is not feasible in areas with little wood. Carcasses may also be buried, though the burying of large animals deeply enough to prevent resurfacing of spores requires much manpower and expensive tools. Carcasses have been soaked in formaldehyde to kill spores, though this has environmental contamination issues. Block burning of vegetation in large areas enclosing an anthrax outbreak has been tried; this, while environmentally destructive, causes healthy animals to move away from an area with carcasses in search of fresh grass. Some wildlife workers have experimented with covering fresh anthrax carcasses with shadecloth and heavy objects. This prevents some scavengers from opening the carcasses, thus allowing the putrefactive bacteria within the carcass to kill the vegetative ''B. anthracis'' cells and preventing sporulation. This method also has drawbacks, as scavengers such as hyenas are capable of infiltrating almost any exclosure.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The experimental site at [[Gruinard Island]] is said to have been decontaminated with a mixture of formaldehyde and seawater by the Ministry of Defence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/scotland/1457035.stm |title=Britain's 'Anthrax Island' |date=25 July 2001 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=26 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226205629/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/scotland/1457035.stm |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is not clear whether similar treatments had been applied to US test sites.