Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Keith in Iowa
Manmade vectors for anthrax spore dust are many and varied. One possible vector begins at the printing presses of newpapers and magazines. Dust trapped between pages could infect the unspecting subscriber or supermarket checkout line browser.
6 posted on 10/10/2001 3:47:21 AM PDT by crypt2k
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies ]


To: crypt2k
"...Manmade vectors for anthrax spore dust are many and varied. One possible vector begins at the printing presses of newpapers and magazines. Dust trapped between pages could infect the unspecting subscriber or supermarket checkout line browser..."

Many specialized newspapers don’t do their own printing, and many of those who do so do it at a different physical location than the one where their newsroom staff is employed. Modern digital transmission capabilities even allow for the press and camera rooms to be located in separate locations. (although generally they will be located together)

Add to this the physical nature of modern offset printing (ultra high-speed passage of fresh, very tightly rolled paper through the press) and concerns about "Dust trapped between pages" can be largely dismissed.

Which is not to say that a newspaper can't be used as a delivery vector for anthrax spores, a determined group could do this. But it would almost certainly require the compromise of the print shop, with terrorists hand-sifting the spores into the finished newspapers pages after the printing and folding processes have been completed.

14 posted on 10/10/2001 4:29:47 AM PDT by DWSUWF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies ]

To: crypt2k
>One possible vector begins at the printing presses of newpapers and magazines. Dust trapped between pages could infect the unspecting subscriber or supermarket checkout line browser.

The only problem with that is some FReeprs did some research and found out that their papers are printed regionally, so....if it's terrorists, they are incredibly incompetent, or this isn't some big masterminded plot (which everybody seems to be ignoring the fact that the photo editor and somebody in the mail room would not be working the presses even if there were presses there so wouldn't be exposed).

21 posted on 10/10/2001 5:31:11 AM PDT by texlok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson