Vaporous Hydrogen Peroxide (VHP) Decontamination of a C-141B Starlifter Aircraft: Validation of VHP and Modified VHP (mVHP) Fumigation Decontamination Process via VHP-Sensor, Biological Indicator, and HD Simulant in a Large-Scale Environment

The chemical and biological weapons decontamination of a C-141B aircraft carried out during Oct-Nov 2004 is part of a Congressionally funded joint venture between U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and Strategic Technology Enterprises STESTERIS Corporation, Inc., Mentor, OH to develop and demonstrate the suitability of vaporous hydrogen peroxidemodified vaporous hydrogen peroxide VHPmVHP technology. The purpose of this exercise was to ensure that the vapor could be evenly distributed within the aircrafts cargo hold and its concentration sustained during four runs of 5-24 hr. For the biological decontamination tests, commercial Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicator BI strips and coupons of three aircraft related surface materials contaminated with the same type of spores were strategically placed within the aircraft prior to exposure to the VHPmVHP fumigant. Coupons of two surface materials contaminated with distilled mustard were used in the chemical warfare CW decontamination tests. Over 99.5 kill 3 of 600, of all commercial BIs was achieved for the four decontamination runs. The three positive BIs are exclusively associated with the 5-hr VHP run. In the 5- and 10.5-hr fumigant exposures, residual chemical and biological warfare CBW agent simulant levels were below the workers threshold limits set by the Joint Portable Interior Decontamination Systems Operational Requirements Document draft for the corresponding agents. The resulting data has clearly established the suitability of the VHPmVHP technology for the decontamination of aircraft interiors contaminated with CBW threat materials.