title: A simple decontamination approach using hydrogen peroxide vapour for Bacillus anthracis spore inactivation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of relatively low levels of hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) for the inactivation of Bacillus anthracis spores within an indoor environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laboratory-scale decontamination tests were conducted using bacterial spores of both B. anthracis Ames and Bacillus atrophaeus inoculated onto several types of materials. Pilot-scale tests were also conducted using a larger chamber furnished as an indoor office. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) humidifiers filled with aqueous solutions of 3 or 8% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were used to generate the HPV inside the mock office. The spores were exposed to HPV for periods ranging from 8 h up to 1 week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four- to seven-day exposures to low levels of HPV (average air concentrations of approx. 5-10 parts per million) were effective in inactivating B. anthracis spores on multiple materials. The HPV can be generated with COTS humidifiers and household H2O2solutions. With the exception of one test/material, B. atrophaeus spores were equally or more resistant to HPV inactivation compared to those from B. anthracis Ames.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simple and effective decontamination method is another option that could be widely applied in the event of a B. anthracis spore release.
authors: National Homeland Security Research Center, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Wood
authors: National Homeland Security Research Center, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors: M W
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6544-329X
authors: MW
authors: Calfee
authors: ARCADIS, Inc., Durham, NC, USA.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Clayton
authors: ARCADIS, Inc., Durham, NC, USA.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Griffin-Gatchalian
authors: Jacobs Technology Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Touati
authors: National Homeland Security Research Center, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ryan
authors: Consequence Management Advisory Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mickelsen
authors: US Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, Gunpowder, MD, USA.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Smith
authors: US Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, Gunpowder, MD, USA.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Rastogi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000187:drug effects; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: 
  Bacillus anthracis
  ; antimicrobials; bacterial spores; biocides; hydrogen peroxide vapour; sterilization