Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Decontamination of Bacillus anthracis on Gruinard Island?

Nature volume 303, pages 239–240 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

In experiments on Gruinard Island 40 years ago small bombs containing spores of Bacillus anthracis were suspended from a gantry and detonated, producing widespread contamination of the island's surface. Recently, analysis of soil samples has shown that the area where the spores can now be detected is small enough to be considered for decontamination1. We investigated the effect of treating the soil with sporicidal chemicals, namely, potassium permanganate, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, Cidex (‘activated’ glutaraldehyde, Surgikos), dodecylamine and peracetic acid.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Manchee, R. J., Broster, M. G., Melling, J., Henstridge, R. M. & Stagg, A. J. Nature 294, 254–255 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hussaini, S. N. & Ruby, K. R. Vet. Rec. 98, 257–259 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rode, L. J. & Foster, J. W. Nature 188, 1132–1134 (1960).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Knisely, R. F. J. Bact. 92, 784–786 (1966).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ, UK

    R. J. Manchee, M. G. Broster, Isabel S. Anderson & R. M. Henstridge

  2. Public Health Laboratory Service, Vaccine Research and Production Laboratory, CAMR, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK

    J. Melling

Authors
  1. R. J. Manchee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. G. Broster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Isabel S. Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. M. Henstridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Melling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Manchee, R., Broster, M., Anderson, I. et al. Decontamination of Bacillus anthracis on Gruinard Island?. Nature 303, 239–240 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/303239a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/303239a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing