Indian researchers have found a simple, very inexpensive way for health workers in developing countries to treat infectious material.1 They immersed simulated and real infectious medical-waste in water within a solar box-cooker. After 6 hours of solar exposure reaching temperatures of 68°-87°C, the viable population of a range of common pathogens decreased — by a 7 log reduction — to fewer than 10 colony-forming units or bacteria/mL.
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