Bacillus anthracis on Gruinard Island.

摘要: During the Second World War, trials of Bacillus anthracis as a potential agent biological warfare (BW) were carried out on Gruinard Island off west coast Scotland (57°56′N, 5°35′W). Small bombs containing slurry spores B. detonated: most suspended, about 6 feet above ground, from gantry but one was dropped an aircraft. The resulting aerosol clouds observed to pass through lines sheep tethered at various distances down-wind detonation site and after few days several died anthrax. lethal nature BW weapons used in open had, therefore, been shown; unfortunate legacy island heavily contaminated with persistent virulent microorganism. Soil samples tested annually 1948 1968 again 1972 by Ministry Defence staff found contain viable (unpublished work), although accurate counts not made. We report here results first full survey extent area numbers present. survey, 1979, shows that areas around remain detectable level much wider surrounding zone undetectable contamination, possibly localized high concentrations spores, could also constitute hazard.