Pest control fumigant eradicates spores.

• Position: Anthrax - Methyl bromide research - Brief Article

As anthrax and other biological weapons continue to be threats, a University of Florida, Gainesville, researcher has found that a common pest control agent called methyl bromide is more-effective and cheaper than current treatments in eradicating deadly bacterial spores from buildings. "Tests indicate the fumigant--used for more than 50 years to control insect pests in buildings, grain elevators, and fresh fruit--is a better option than current treatments such as chlorine dioxide for killing anthrax and other bacterial spores," reports Rudolf Scheffrahn, a professor of entomology with the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Methyl bromide fumigation would have cost less than one-fourth of the estimated $23,000,000 spent to clean up the anthrax contamination in the 3,000-square-foot Daschle Suite in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., according to Scheffrahn. The cleanup estimate is based on an Environmental Protection Agency study ordered by Sen. Charles Grassley (R.-Iowa). "Another...