stupid anthrax q: would microwaving your snail mail help?

[Karsten M. Self]

on Sun, Oct 14, 2001 at 04:11:16PM -0400, sunder (sunder at sunder.net) wrote:
> This is a stupid question but as I'm not a biologist, I'll ask it
> anyway and risk looking foolish...
> 
> Would it help to microwave your mail if you don't know where it came
> from and you're sure it doesn't contain an objects?  i.e. it's not a
> CD you've ordered from Amazon. :)

This suggestion turned up on Kuro5hin, a web discussion site (Slashdot's
baby brother):

    If you want to sterilize your mail, simply place the unopened
    envelope on an ironing board and place a damp, thin cloth on top of
    it. Then iron it. Yes, iron it. Just like you would iron your pants.
    The damp heat will kill any bacteria, including anthrax, inside the
    envelope, and you will be safe.

    http://www.kuro5hin.org/comments/2001/10/18/44222/299/16#16

Probably more accessible to most of the population (and workplaces) than
claves, pressure cookers, or irradiation equipment.

Anyone have thoughts or (?) knowledge on efficacy, or guidelines on how
long the heating should last for decontamination?

The obvious terrorist counter-countermeasure would be to add a
heat-activated agent to the weapon.

Peace.

-- 
Karsten M. Self <kmself at ix.netcom.com>       http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
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