Anthrax remediation and response

• US 7,459,700 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America), Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Baca, Dennis, Bridges, John H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman; Jack I
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMYTH, ANDREW P
• Application Number:
  US10/422,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,049 Days
• Field of Search: 250/492.3, 232/30
• US Class Current: 250/492.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/087 Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances

Abstract

Remediation methods in response to a biological attack address treatment of goods (e.g., mail items), vehicle interiors, facilities, and personal protective equipment. The treatment of mail involves segregation of mail items by size and the organization and packaging of the segregated mail items for exposure to accelerated electron beam irradiation. Vehicle interiors are cleaned in a suitable decontamination area with a bleach solution. Facilities are separated into an exclusion zone, adjacent contamination reduction zone, and adjacent support zone. Persons enter the exclusion zone wearing personal protective equipment, exit the exclusion zone and enter the contamination reduction zone, and de-contaminate their personal protective equipment in the contamination reduction zone utilizing a bleach solution.

Claims

1. A method for remediating the effects of a biological attack comprising the steps of:

exposing mail items suspected of contamination from exposure to a biological agent to sufficient electron beam radiation to substantially decontaminate said mail items;

segregating mail items by size and selecting mail items having a substantially letter size;

positioning said substantially letter size mail items in a tray;

sealing said tray with said letter size mail items therein into a letter tray sleeve;

closing said letter tray sleeve;

inserting said closed letter tray sleeve into a first polyvinyl bag having a thickness of between about 3 and about 6 mils;

goosenecking an opening of said first polyvinyl bag and sealing said goosenecked opening with tape;

inserting said goosenecked and sealed first polyvinyl bag into a second polyvinyl bag having a thickness of between about 3 and about 6 mils;

goosenecking an opening of said second polyvinyl bag and sealing said goosenecked opening with tape;

inserting said goosenecked and sealed second polyvinyl bag into a box; and

sealing said box.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mail items are exposed to said electron beam radiation for a period of time between about 30 and about 60 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said biological agent is the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transporting said mail items in a vehicle from a first location to a second location, wherein said exposing step occurs at said second location.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of decontaminating said vehicle after said transporting step.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said decontamination step comprises the steps of:

creating a vehicle decontamination area;

positioning said vehicle in said vehicle decontamination area; and

spraying an interior of said vehicle with a bleach solution.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

wiping said vehicle interior;

allowing said vehicle to stand for at least approximately one hour so as to permit sufficient contact time for said bleach solution to act;

rinsing said vehicle interior with water; and

allowing said vehicle interior to air dry.

7. A method for remediating the effects of a biological attack comprising the steps of:

exposing mail items suspected of contamination from exposure to a biological agent to sufficient electron beam radiation to substantially decontaminate said mail items;

transporting said mail items in a vehicle from a first location to a second location, wherein said exposing step occurs at said second location; and

decontaminating said vehicle after said transporting step, wherein said decontamination step comprises the steps of;

creating a vehicle decontamination area;

positioning said vehicle in said vehicle decontamination area; and

spraying an interior of said vehicle with a bleach solution;

wherein said vehicle decontamination area includes an underlying, impermeable layer that is strong enough to withstand the traction of tires and a barrier to prevent run-off of liquids utilized in the decontamination process and to allow their collection at the end of the process.

23. The method of claim 7 wherein said mail items are exposed to said electron beam radiation for a period of time between about 30 and about 60 minutes.

24. The method of claim 7 wherein said biological agent is the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

9. A remediation method comprising the steps of:

conducting remediation activities at a site where a biological attack may have occurred;

establishing an exclusion zone with restricted access thereto;

wherein said exclusion zone includes the site of the suspected biological attack;

establishing a contamination reduction zone adjacent to said exclusion zone;

wherein a person entering said exclusion zone or exiting from said exclusion zone does so through said contamination reduction zone;

wherein said contamination reduction zone has located therein means for decontaminating personal protective equipment worn by said person exiting said exclusion zone; and

establishing a support zone adjacent to said contamination reduction zone;

wherein said support zone is a clean zone and wherein said support zone includes dressing facilities and equipment.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said decontaminating means comprises an enclosed tent system defining a plurality of decontamination areas.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said support zone is mobile.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said support zone further has located therein a command post.

13. A remediation method in response to a biological attack on a facility comprising the steps of:

entering an exclusion zone of a facility where a biological attack is at least suspected to have occurred;

donning personal protective equipment prior to entering the exclusion zone;

wherein said personal protective equipment includes an outer personal protective garment, an underlying clothing layer, a first inner pair of gloves, a second inner pair of gloves, an outer pair of gloves, and a foot covering;

a person exiting said exclusion zone;

a person decontaminating said personal protective equipment;

wherein said decontamination step comprises the following steps;

rinsing said outer personal protective garment with a soap solution;

rinsing said outer personal protective garment with water;

removing said outer personal protective garment;

removing said outer pair of gloves and said first pair of inner gloves;

spraying said outer personal protective garment with a bleach solution;

removing said underlying clothing layer without pulling said underlying clothing layer over said person'"'"'s head;

removing said foot covering;

spraying said underlying clothing layer with a bleach solution;

spraying said foot covering with a bleach solution;

removing said second pair of inner gloves; and

spraying said second pair of inner gloves with a bleach solution.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said underlying clothing layer comprises scrubs.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said personal protective equipment further comprises a respirator.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of leaving said bleach solution on said outer personal protective garment for approximately one hour.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of leaving said bleach solution on said underlying clothing layer for approximately one hour.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of leaving said bleach solution on said second pair of inner gloves for approximately one hour.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of leaving said bleach solution on said foot covering for at least approximately thirty minutes.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of said person showering with soap and water.

21. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

placing said respirator into said bleach solution for at least approximately 15 minutes;

wiping down parts of said respirator with said bleach solution;

leaving said bleach solution thereon for at least approximately 45 minutes; and

rinsing said respirator with water.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein said decontamination steps are performed in a contamination reduction zone adjacent to said exclusion zone, and wherein said contamination reduction zone is separated into a plurality of areas and wherein different decontamination steps are performed in different said areas.