PATHOGEN DESTRUCTION                     

Electron Beams Destroy Pathogens An electron beam system is a very effective, flexible source of ionizing radiation. When ionizing radiation interacts with a living cell, extensive damage is done to the DNA leading to cell death. Additionally, the electron beam creates free radicals that cause further damage by reacting with the macromolecules in the cell such as proteins and enyzmes. The high energy electrons from an electron beam destroy all types of pathogens including viruses, fungi, bacteria, parasites, spores and other microorganisms with great effectiveness. The radiation dose absorbed is measured in grays (1 gray (Gy) = 100 rads). To determine the propose dose required to full destroy all pathogens, doses are measured in various parts of the irradiation area and correlated to the levels needed to ensure microbial inactivation. Medical Device Sterilization Electron beam systems are very effective in sterilizing a wide variety of medical devices, and eliminate the technical and operational problems associated with competing methods of sterilization. The unique properties of an electron beamallow for the sterilization of virtually the full range of medical products, such as filled syringes, filled wrapped procedure trays, pre-packaged wound dressings and catheters. Until recently, electron beam sterilization has been available only through large, complex and very expensive facilities. With the development of SCANTECH systems, electron beam sterilization is now available for on-site installation and in-line use so that an electron beam system's important technical and economic advantages are available to small, medium and large medical device producers. SCANTECH has developed sterilization systems based on its STS 10/20 modular system employing its "integrated-shielded" electron beam systems that will allow the continuous sterilization of products in seconds. The STS 10/20 medical sterilization system will be cost effective, environmentally friendly, and will provide high throughput. Competing technologies may cost up to $1.35 per item and can take 7 to 14 days to process. In contrast, the SCANTECH system will allow sterilization at a cost under $0.10 per item. Environmental Remediation Pollution of water, land, and air is a widespread and growing concern around the world. Disease and contamination caused by improper treatment and disposal of waste products is an international problem. Of particular concern are wastes that present problems in two areas: those containing potentially infectious microorganisms (sewage sludge, biomedical wastes, and waste water) and those contaminated with toxic chemicals. Electron beam irradiation is an effective technology to treat sludge, ground water, surface water and industrial and municipal waste water. Ionizing radiation from electron beams is currently being used across the spectrum of environmental remediation in all phases of application from laboratory testing to pilot plants to full-scale operational plants. High power, high throughput electron beam systems such as the SCANTECH STS-10/20 have proven very successful, in both pilot plant and full-scale operation, in remediating many types of pollution in gaseous, liquid and biosolid (sludge) forms as well as neutralizing a broad variety of toxic chemicals and substances. Medical Waste Treatment Approximately 800 million pounds of infectious and hazardous biomedical waste is generated by the 6,775 hospitals and other medical facilities in the United States each year. This waste must be properly treated and sterilized to prevent accidental infection of the health professionals who handle it as well as the general public through inadvertent exposure. Recent and emerging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations severely limiting the viability of incineration and autoclaving as methods to treat medical wastes have created a tremendous opportunity for alternate technologies. SCANTECH has developed the STS 10/20 electron beam systems that will provide extremely effective, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly methods of treating medical wastes. Using the same 10 MeV modular technology and hardware, SCANTECH medical waste treatment systems will treat more than 1,000 pounds of infectious waste per hour. Thwarting Bio-Terrorism Following the US anthrax attacks, which by October 22, 2001 had infected a reported 38 people, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations' health agency concluded, "The unthinkable is no longer unthinkable and we need to prepare for that." Since the attacks, governments around the world have been warned to prepare against bio-terrorist attacks that could kill millions. The US anthrax attacks demonstrate the impact of bio-terrorism and the need to develop mitigation technologies to protect the public and responders from biological warfare agents such as anthrax or smallpox. Medical studies suggest that a smallpox out-break in the US could kill around a million people in three months. Initial smallpox symptoms include fever, severe headache, back and chest pains and intense anxiety. Victims develop blotchy rashes, often with purple lesions, followed by a face rash similar to sunburn and severe scarring. Death can take from 48 hours to two weeks. There is no treatment. Some authors maintain that anthrax is an even more deadly agent. Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis that most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals. The spores are very stable and may remain viable for many years in soil and water. They will resist sunlight for varying periods. Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within 7 days. SCANTECH has designed a family of biorisk reduction systems that employ the most effective and efficient biocidal technology available - powerful electron beams. The SCANTECH systems employ "integrated-shielded" electron beam-based systems to effectively destroy any biohazard. These systems can be strategically deployed at critical points of collection or distribution of mail or packages to reduce the risks associated with bio-terrorism from sources such as anthrax, smallpox, etc.