CONTAMINATED REMAINS 18 JANUARY 91

File: 120396_sep96_decls45_0004.txt
Page: 0004
Total Pages: 4

Subject: CONTAMINATED REMAINS  18 JANUARY 91                             

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003204

Folder Title: CONTAMINATED REMAINS                                                                            

Document Number:          1

Folder SEQ  #:         13










         MICROBIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ON ANTHRAX:


                The weapon would deliver spores and these spores could directly
         contaminate clothing or skin of soldiers near munition burst or aerosol
         dissemination sites; distant from these sites, surface contamination would not be
         significant. Inhaled small particle aerosols may deposit in the lung and anthrax
         spores remain there without germination for weeks, as well. They are relatively
         resistant to some disinfectants but are killed by hypochlorite, provided the
         disinfectant solution is not inactivated by organic matter and comes in contact
         with the spores.
                These spores will persist in soils for years and are a risk for domestic
         animals. Although naturally occurring cases of human anthrax from soil have
         been described anecdotally by the Soviets, this is regarded as an exceedingly rare
         circumstance. Experimental studies of secondary aerosolization of simulant spores
         from soil required very high concentrations to achieve any appreciable inhaled
         dose even after such operations as driving a bull-dozer over dry soil. All
         recognized cases of inhalation anthrax in the US and Britain have been related to
         spore contaminated hides, wool, or bone meal. Several methods of
         decontaminating soils have been investigated. The celebrated Scottish island
         contaminated during WWII was a particularly difficult case because of the heavy
         contamination resulting from a munition and because of the neutralizing effects of
         the peat soil on disinfectant.
                Humans (or domestic animals) dying from anthrax have very high
         concentrations of vegetative bacilli in their blood and organs (ca, 10'-109/ml or
         gram). These organisms pose a potential risk of cutaneous anthrax to medical
         personnel, but are not believed to be an inhalation threat.
e bacilli do not sporulate unless exposed to air. Thus,
         veterinary public health authorities recommend that anthrax deaths not be
         necropsied to prevent spore formation. The bacilli themselves are not unusually
         resistant to environmental conditions; they are overgrown and largely eliminated
         by the putrefactive bacteria as the corpse decomposes. Cattle or sheep are usually
         incinerated to provide more thorough elimination and to prevent scavengers from
         opening the carcass (enhancing sporulation) and scattering spores. Burial is not
         recommended by the USDA and lime is not regarded as an effective
         accompaniment to interment.

Document 4 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CONTAMINATED REMAINS/contaminated remains 18 january 91:1122961634153
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003204
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CONTAMINATED REMAINS
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = CONTAMINATED REMAINS 18 JANUARY 91
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 22-NOV-1996