Shipping Containers for One Gallon or Less of Etiologic Agent Tested in Crash of C-119 Aircraft

摘要

Four prototype shipping containers for 1 gallon or less of etiologic agent were assembled in compliance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations. Three of the containers each consisted of a No. 3 (51.7 ounces or 1529 ml capacity) crimp-seal metal can wrapped in cotton, inserted into a No. 12 crimp-seal metal can (138.3 ounces or 4,109.5 ml capacity), and then placed in a fiberboard container with cotton forced into the space between the metal can and fiberboard container. About 0.25 inch of space was between the outer metal can and the fiberboard container. The fourth container was a 1-gallon polyethylene bottle; its sides were wrapped in cellulosic cushioning material and then it was inserted into a metal drum cushioned with vermiculite on the bottom; vermiculite was then poured on top of the bottle. This steel drum was wrapped in more cellulosic cushioning material and placed into a larger metal drum. The top of each drum was sealed with an adjustable bolt ring. Appropriate amounts of a liquid suspension of Escherichia coli B were placed as a test microorganism in each innermost container. The four prototype containers were secured in a C-119 aircraft along with a principal experimental container. The plane was crashed at about 120 knots by running it up and over a 20-degree embankment 40 feet high onto desert soil. The four containers survived the crash without leaking. (Author)