Re: pinhole microwaving microbes

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From: Karen Kalumuck (karenk@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Wed Oct 17 2001 - 14:13:13 PDT 

Message-Id: <v01540b03b7f3a38cd232@[192.174.3.119]>
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 14:13:13 -0700
From: karenk@exploratorium.edu (Karen Kalumuck)
Subject: Re: pinhole microwaving microbes

Hi All,

In addition to Raleigh's perceptive response, I want to add that the
anthrax that is being found in various powders and in people's nasal
passages is the anthrax spore. Spores of bacilli (the the rod-shaped type
of bacterium that includes anthrax) are notoriously difficult to kill.
Spores are dormant phases of the microbe, designed to withstand extremes of
environmental conditions and contain little, if any water. They're just
waiting for optimal environmental conditions to germinate and propagate
like mad.

It's unlikely that even the fire that would inevitably occur should you
microwave your mail on a regular basis would kill the spore. And then
you're without your mail, a mess in your microwave, and anthrax spores all
over it, to boot!

High pressure coupled with high temperature --- such as in an autoclave---
are the effective means of killing spores.

----Karen

Karen E. Kalumuck, Ph.D.
Biologist
Exploratorium Teacher Institute
3601 Lyon St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
415-561-0388
karenk@exploratorium.edu

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