The presence of highly dangerous and contagious micro-organisms and pathogens e.g. viruses, viral Increased animal disease threats prompted the study to look at ways to sterilize wool in the case of an emergency disease outbreak.
The project concluded that without further work, the commercial sterilization of greasy wool by gamma-radiation cannot be recommended due to the associated changes in colour and area bisulphate and alkali solubilities. The results of the study are being written up in the form of a PhD thesis which is due to be submitted for examination during this year, and a paper will be prepared for submission to a peer reviewed journal.