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Bleach-Based Biodecontamination of Subway Materials
Citation:
Oudejans, L., A. Touati, D. Aslett, A. Abdel-Hady, F. Delafield, J. Colon, AND A. Merrell. Bleach-Based Biodecontamination of Subway Materials. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-18/251, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of inhalation anthrax, is one of the most highly studied biological threat agents, yet gap remains in the identification of effective decontaminants, especially under challenging conditions such as the presence of dirt/grime or the existence of porous materials. Bench scale decontamination research can fill such gap leading to faster and more cost-effective remediation approaches. This work describes the impact that dirt and grime may have on the decontamination efficacy when using pH amended bleach or diluted bleach to inactivate bacillus anthracis surrogate spores. It also assesses the impact of (rain) water on the transport of spores and subsequent decontamination of track ballast, a porous support structure frequently encountered in subway and train tracks. These results can be used to determine whether a specific decontamination technology can be effective in a given scenario. This report has been made available to the response community to prepare for and recover from disasters involving biological contamination.
Description:
This report discusses results from a bench scale study that investigated the impact of dirt and grime on pH amended bleach and diluted bleach decontamination efficacy as commonly encountered on relevant subway rolling stock and subway infrastructure surface materials, including track ballast. Information derived from this study will facilitate the decision-making process on whether e.g., a pre-cleaning of surface materials is recommended prior to application of the actual decontaminant.