Abstract
The editors are pleased to announce that Applied Biosafety (APB), the journal of ABSA International, is now published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. This special themed issue of APB focuses on decontamination methods and emerging technologies for decontamination in unique environments and extreme conditions. The successful decontamination or sterilization of infectious and toxin containing materials is a core biosafety requirement in research, medical, and biotechnical/pharma and a biosecurity requirement in agri- and aquacultural industries. With the onset of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus pandemic, disinfection of surfaces (and air) and decontamination of waste streams have become a familiar practice in more mainstream settings outside of research and health care, and is now considered in our homes and other facets of our day-to-day lives.
Two articles contained within this special themed issue focus on novel technologies to be used in specialized situations. Guan et al. evaluated the use of sea water as a diluent for an accelerated hydrogen peroxide virucidal disinfectant that could be used on aquaculture equipment and structures when fresh water is not available. Liang et al. address the challenge of conducting decontamination after an act of bioterrorism with Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain spores. The authors simulated subzero temperatures in the laboratory and tested the effect calcium chloride had as a freezing point depression agent for pH-adjusted sodium hypochlorite on sporicidal activity.
Documenting the effectiveness and reproducibility of decontamination procedures before disposal of infectious materials is a requirement in the United States and many other countries. Schinköthe et al. used data loggers and biological indicators to obtain temperature measurements and confirm the autoclave parameters and minor equipment modifications that were required to ensure large animal carcasses could reproducibly be sterilized using the liquid cycle in a pass-through autoclave. Cote et al. conducted a series of experiments validating the inactivation of Bacillus spores by testing several concentrations of free chlorine in bleach against complex matrices containing organic simulants that would normally be found in the liquid effluent waste steam to include fetal bovine serum, humic acid, and animal room sanitation effluent. Choi et al. demonstrated how environmental variables and surface-to-volume ratios may affect decontamination effectiveness by analyzing formaldehyde vapor levels in air samples collected over time while simultaneously varying the temperature of the enclosure. They also determined the starting mass of decontaminant sublimated, as well as the materials inside the chamber and surface area-to-volume ratio in the chamber.
Memarzadeh provides a current review of applications and general considerations for the use of ultraviolet radiation in the C band (UV-C) as a “no-touch” technology in disinfecting air and high-touch surfaces in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Part 2 of the Kümin et al. review article provides a detailed discussion of verification and validation of hydrogen peroxide fumigation cycles and considerations that go into the process. Part 1 of the Kümin et al. review, which focused on providing an introduction to hydrogen peroxide fumigation, was published in APB (Volume 25, Number 4, 2020).
The timely, actionable, and relevant publications in this issue demonstrate some of the diverse technologies, novel and familiar, employed in decontaminating and sterilizing various waste streams, in various settings, and highlight the range of environmental factors that influence efficacy. These articles represent learning opportunities and best practices for individuals and institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. APB is committed to publishing articles demonstrating the scientific process that provides the underpinning of biosafety practices applied in the biosafety profession.