stupid anthrax q: would microwaving your snail mail help?

Jim Choate ravage at ssz.com
Fri Oct 19 05:27:18 PDT 2001



Sounds like somebody doesn't do their own washing/ironing :)

The steam in an iron doesn't get anywhere that hot, it'd ruin the clothes.
Also an iron will have steam escaping around the edges (when you hit the
steam button especially) and this has the potential to spread un-heated
spores into the atmosphere.

On Fri, 19 Oct 2001, Karsten M. Self wrote:

> 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?


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