Diffuse Security Threats: Technologies for Mail Sanitization Exist, but Challenges Remain.

摘要

The purpose of this report is to provide the briefing slides to you. These slides are included as the appendix. In our briefing, we reported that ionizing radiation has emerged as the leading current technology for mail sanitization. This technology is commonly used for sterilizing medical products; preparing food for human consumption by reducing the bacterial contamination of meat, poultry, eggs, and vegetables; and delaying the ripening or sprouting of fresh fruit to control insects and parasites in foods. When sufficient dosages are used, ionizing radiation can also decontaminate biological weapons such as anthrax. While USPS currently has two contracts to irradiate the mail, there are many issues that must be addressed to expand the use of ionizing radiation technology. For instance, the USPS will need to assess (1) how it will integrate this technology with the current mail-processing equipment and (2) the technology's associated costs, schedule, benefits, and risks.