Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of tuberculosis, and there are different times and different environmental factors that lead to different lengths of time for the pathogen to survive. Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive in dry sputum for about 8 months, and if it is attached to dust and insect mites, it can remain infectious for up to 10 days. If it is immersed in 70% concentration of alcohol, it will die in about 2 minutes. Putting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in liquid and heating it to about 62-63°C can be killed in 15 minutes. Mycobacterium tuberculosis of tuberculosis can also be killed by exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight for up to 3-4 hours.