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Field Experience with Chlorine Dioxide Fumigation of a Hospital: Timeline and Lessons Learned
Citation:
MARTIN, G. B., D. MICKUNAS, S. P. RYAN, S. FREDERICKS, D. MATTORANO, A. ZIMMER, D. ZUROSKI, J. Y. Mason, K. Cavanagh, D. Dechant, L. R. BROOKS, T. Intrepido, J. Kowalski, AND T. Leighton. Field Experience with Chlorine Dioxide Fumigation of a Hospital: Timeline and Lessons Learned. Presented at 31st Artic Marine Oil Spill Program Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination Response, Calgary, AB, CANADA, June 03 - 05, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
Presented paper
Description:
Chlorine dioxide (Cl02) fumigation technology was developed and successfully used to remediate four large buildings contaminated with anthrax spores from 2001 through 2004. As a first application of the technology, those remediations were complex, costly and time consuming. There is a need to be better prepared to respond to intentional, accidental or natural biological contamination of critical infrastructure. We have gained substantial understanding of how to expedite the restoration and recovery of biologically contaminated structures. Furthermore, the technology has undergone substantial development to simplify Cl02 application, expedite field deployment, and reduce fumigation time and cost. In 2007, Cl02 fumigation was deployed to address a mold issue in a large hospital. The timeframe from fumigation to facility re-occupancy was under two weeks. This paper will discuss the comprehensive response. We provide a timeline for the overall event, discuss the critical role of a Technical Working Group, and summarize lessons learned. We also provide insights into how this field experience can be extrapolated to several hypothetical biological contamination scenarios of current importance.