Before I pose my questions, here are some news reports, cobbled together and reworded to avoid copyright restrictions:
"Scientists may gas the nine-story Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., in a first-of-its-kind attempt to wipe out potentially deadly anthrax spores, after a letter spiked with anthrax was delivered to the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. The plan, which must receive EPA approval, involves pumping chlorine dioxide — the chemical used to treat drinking water in cities — through the ventilation system to attack and destroy the anthrax bacteria within the building’s 10 million cubic feet.
“The spores are impossible to see with the naked eye, so officials can’t be sure exactly where to clean. That’s why chlorine gas would be considered because it, hypothetically, kills spores that come in contact with air. If the EPA gives the nod, crews would seal the Hart building and fumigate it over 2 days. After the chemical settled, presumably destroying the anthrax, crews would clean the leftover residue in each office and re-open the building. Chlorine dioxide works by attacking the shell of anthrax and bores into the spore to damage its genetic core. But it is unclear if that chemical will rid the office building of anthrax without damaging documents, photographs and other potentially historic documents left behind in the hasty evacuation.”
QUESTIONS:
- Chlorine dioxide purportedly ravages the anthrax bacterium and may even damage exposed office documents. What were to happen if this chemical came into contact with human skin?
- Is it the same as chlorine gas?
- Is chlorine dioxide gas easily made? Could it be made at home?
- What other facts about chlorine dioxide should we know?