Chinese scientists announced Friday they have developed a device capable of producing powerful electron beams that can destroy anthrax bacteria in sealed mail.
Such a device could be useful in combating the on-going worldwide anthrax scare, an international terrorism nightmare that has killed four people in the United States. Anthrax-laden letters have also been found in Brazil, Lithuania and Pakistan, among other nations.
Device developer China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) and the Beijing Public Security Bureau have signed a contract to manufacture the device.
Some US companies have contacted the institute about the device, published reports claimed.
Experts involved in the project said it will take at least four months and 2 million yuan (US$240,000) to turn the technology into a machine.
Once created, expert Zhou Changchun said, police will be able to zap up to 20,000 mails per day.
Zhou Wenzhen, director of the lab that developed the device, said he was confident it can "sterilize all kinds of biological bacteria, including anthrax bacillus."
"Anthrax bacillus inside mail will die out while passing the radiation zone under the control of the accelerator," Zhou said.
Yet it is safe to humans and leaves no radioactive traces in the mail, Zhou insisted.
The devices, just 2 cubic metres large, can be put in an ordinary room, Zhou said.
Zhou claimed while other nations may have developed similar accelerators, this device is the first to be applied to securing mail safety.
(China Daily November 17, 2001)
