Questions and Answers: NIH’s Building 470 in Frederick, Md.

1. What is Building 470 and what was it used for?

Building 470 is a seven-story steel and brick building at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Md. The property was transferred from the Department of Defense to the National Cancer Institute in 1988.

In 1953, the Army constructed Building 470 as a pilot plant for the production of biological agents as part of the United States’ biological warfare program. From 1954 to 1965, the building was used for production of Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, and Brucella suis. These bacteria are the causative agents of anthrax, tularemia, and brucellosis, respectively.

2. When were infectious agents last used in the building?

Production of biological agents ceased in 1965 and all production and processing equipment was sterilized. Laboratory work continued until 1969, but no infectious agents were produced. In 1970, the building was vacated. Final decontamination began that year and was completed in June 1971.

3. Is there a biological threat to the community or to individuals who enter Building 470?

Following decontamination in 1971, the Army carried out extensive testing of Building 470. Samples from approximately 1,300 locations throughout the building tested negative for B. anthracis. In September 2000, re-examination of the data by biological safety experts from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke University, and Science Applications International Corporation showed no evidence of infectious agents.

The success of the decontamination was verified again in October 2002, when tests on an additional 790 samples revealed no trace of live or dead B. anthracis. All samples were analyzed by conventional culture methods, and 40 of these were further analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, a more sensitive test involving DNA.

4. What is the current condition of Building 470?

Today, Building 470 is in poor structural condition. The exterior mortar and brick of the building are buckling, and the roof is leaking. Corroded beams and columns, cracked and peeling plaster, and blistering paint contribute to the disrepair of the building. This deterioration could lead to significant structural failure and risk to adjacent buildings and the employees occupying them. There is the potential for falling bricks or pieces of mortar, which could endanger passers-by or vehicles. Further structural failure could eventually cause tons of masonry, iron, and steel to fall onto attached and adjacent buildings and thoroughfares.

5. What is planned for Building 470?

The removal of Building 470 has been approved by the state of Maryland. Dismantling could begin as early as summer 2003, after appropriation of funds and final selection of a demolition contractor. Once dismantling begins, the process is expected to take approximately 10 months.

NCI has consulted with experts regarding the destruction of buildings in confined spaces to ensure that the demolition is carried out in the safest possible manner. A number of safeguards have been built into the plan for the dismantling process. As dismantling proceeds, there will be ongoing sampling of the air for contaminants.