Pest control fumigant eradicates spores - Anthrax - methyl bromide research - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Oct, 2002

As anthrax and other biological weapons continue to be threats, a University of Florida, Gainesville, researcher has found that a common pest control agent called methyl bromide is more-effective and cheaper than current treatments in eradicating deadly bacterial spores from buildings. "Tests indicate the fumigant--used for more than 50 years to control insect pests in buildings, grain elevators, and fresh fruit--is a better option than current treatments such as chlorine dioxide for killing anthrax and other bacterial spores," reports Rudolf Scheffrahn, a professor of entomology with the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Methyl bromide fumigation would have cost less than one-fourth of the estimated $23,000,000 spent to clean up the anthrax contamination in the 3,000-square-foot Daschle Suite in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., according to Scheffrahn. The cleanup estimate is based on an Environmental Protection Agency study ordered by Sen. Charles Grassley (R.-Iowa). "Another advantage of using methyl, bromide fumigant is that it will not damage equipment, furnishings, or sensitive materials. Chlorine dioxide is corrosive and may damage electronics, fabrics, and photographs, among other things."

Scheffrahn indicates that emergency use of methyl bromide fumigant should not be affected by a looming phase-out of the gas. (It is one of many gases that deplete the Earth's protective ozone layer, and many uses will be eliminated.) "When national security is at stake, we need to have the option of using this highly effective and economical fumigant to kill bacterial spores in buildings. According to [the Environmental Protection Agency], the 2005 phase-out will not affect at least three uses of methyl bromide, including quarantines, critical agricultural needs, and emergencies," he maintains.