title: Test methods and response surface models for hot, humid air decontamination of materials contaminated with dirty spores of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop test methods and evaluate survival of Bacillus anthracis ∆Sterne or Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam on materials contaminated with dirty spore preparations after exposure to hot, humid air using response surface modelling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spores (>7 log10 ) were mixed with humic acid + spent sporulation medium (organic debris) or kaolin (dirt debris). Spore samples were then dried on five different test materials (wiring insulation, aircraft performance coating, anti-skid, polypropylene, and nylon). Inoculated materials were tested with 19 test combinations of temperature (55, 65, 75°C), relative humidity (70, 80, 90%) and time (1, 2, 3 days). The slowest spore inactivation kinetics was on nylon webbing and/or after addition of organic debris.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hot, humid air effectively decontaminates materials contaminated with dirty Bacillus spore preparations; debris and material interactions create complex decontamination kinetic patterns; and B. thuringiensis Al Hakam is a realistic surrogate for B. anthracis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Response surface models of hot, humid air decontamination were developed which may be used to select decontamination parameters for contamination scenarios including aircraft.
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Buhr
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Barnette
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Minter
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kennihan
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bohmke
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division, CBR Concepts and Experimentation Branch (Z21), Dahlgren, VA, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DePaola
authors.affiliation: United States Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center, Champaign, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cora-Laó
authors.affiliation: United States Army Corps of Engineers Research and Development Center, Champaign, IL, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000254:growth & development*; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000254:growth & development*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007700:Kinetics; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000254:growth & development*
keywords: Bacillus; decontamination; hot humid air; spore; surrogate