Decontamination of Soil Contaminated at the Surface with <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> (Anthrax) Surrogate Spores Using Steam Vapor.

ABSTRACT: In the event of a wide-area release of Bacillus anthracis spores, soils and other outdoor materials will likely become contaminated with the biological agent. Soils may also become contaminated with B. anthracis when livestock or wildlife succumb to anthrax disease. This study was conducted to assess the in situ remediation of soil using steam vapor to inactivate a B. anthracis spore surrogate (Bacillus atrophaeus) inoculated into soil samples. Tests were conducted using small columns (~0.04 m³ of soil) filled with either loam, clay, or a sandy soil. Following steam treatment, the B. atrophaeus spores were recovered from the test and positive control soil samples via liquid extraction and this liquid was subsequently dilution plated to q

SUBMITTER: Wood J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11980802 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature