hair

[mbw2]

Can human hair be sterilized? Thanks.

[Hamish]

Probably, it will depend on a) the level of sterilisation, b) if it will be attached to someone at the time, c) if you still want it to look like hair afterwards. There are many chemicals which can be used for sterilisation, Ethanol, Phenol, iodine etc. Most of these you wouldn't want to get on your scalp. For removed samples, pressure cooking at 110C for half an hour, this may denature the hair. Ethylene oxide at 80C, very toxic, used to sterilise surgical appliences. Gamma irradiation should leave the hair intact...... Parhapse if you could tell us why I could give a practical answer.