Multi-Analytical Investigation of Arsenical Transfer and Remediation on Nineteenth-Century Green Books in Studies in conservation, Vol.70 N°7-8(2025; October-November) (2025-10-01)

Public ISBD [article]  inStudies in conservation > Vol.70 N°7-8(2025; October-November) (2025-10-01) . - P. 714-729 Titre : Multi-Analytical Investigation of Arsenical Transfer and Remediation on Nineteenth-Century Green Books Type de document : texte imprimé Année de publication : 2025 Article en page(s) : P. 714-729 Langues : Anglais (eng) Catégories : Arsenic -- Contamination -- Recherche Arsenic -- Toxicologie Conservation et restauration -- Méthodologie -- 21e siècle Documentation de bibliothèque -- Conservation et restauration -- Toxicologie Fourier, Spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Livres -- États-Unis -- 19e siècle -- Conservation et restauration Microscopie électronique à balayage Northwestern university. Library -- Fonds spéciaux -- Livres rares -- Conservation et restauration Rayonnement synchrotron Spectroscopie des rayons X Spectroscopie Raman Vert de Paris Index. décimale : 7.025 Dommages. Conservation. Protection Résumé : Books containing heavy metals, specifically nineteenth-century green arsenical books, have been identified at Northwestern University Libraries, raising health and safety concerns related to handling. Copper acetoarsenite pigments, such as emerald green, were detected on book covers, decorative page edges, labels, and other components using noninvasive analytical techniques including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Further examination of selected volumes using synchrotron radiation (SR) techniques revealed pigment migration, degradation, and arsenic transfer to adjacent books. This paper expands on initial findings through two related experiments. The first explored the transfer of arsenic using mechanical friction; Staedtler Mars® white vinyl erasers rubbed on arsenical books generated crumbs which were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Results confirmed the transfer of arsenic, copper, and lead, with decorative page edges being particularly prone to shedding arsenic onto other materials. The second experiment tested remediation methods on a book contaminated by prolonged exposure to an arsenical neighbor. Surface cleaning using erasers and a vacuum removed flecks of pigment but did not eliminate non-chromophoric arsenic as confirmed by SR analyses, which highlights its presence either as a degradation product embedded within the paper or present in the paper as part of its production process. Findings demonstrate the acute toxicity risk posed by arsenical books and support the need for safe handling protocols. However, materials with only trace levels of arsenic embedded during production may pose a lower risk of transfer. Cross contamination beyond prolonged direct contact appears limited. These results highlight critical considerations for library preservation practices and future research on arsenic in historical materials. [article] Multi-Analytical Investigation of Arsenical Transfer and Remediation on Nineteenth-Century Green Books [texte imprimé] . - 2025 . - P. 714-729. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Studies in conservation > Vol.70 N°7-8(2025; October-November) (2025-10-01) . - P. 714-729 Catégories : Arsenic -- Contamination -- Recherche Arsenic -- Toxicologie Conservation et restauration -- Méthodologie -- 21e siècle Documentation de bibliothèque -- Conservation et restauration -- Toxicologie Fourier, Spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Livres -- États-Unis -- 19e siècle -- Conservation et restauration Microscopie électronique à balayage Northwestern university. Library -- Fonds spéciaux -- Livres rares -- Conservation et restauration Rayonnement synchrotron Spectroscopie des rayons X Spectroscopie Raman Vert de Paris Index. décimale : 7.025 Dommages. Conservation. Protection Résumé : Books containing heavy metals, specifically nineteenth-century green arsenical books, have been identified at Northwestern University Libraries, raising health and safety concerns related to handling. Copper acetoarsenite pigments, such as emerald green, were detected on book covers, decorative page edges, labels, and other components using noninvasive analytical techniques including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Further examination of selected volumes using synchrotron radiation (SR) techniques revealed pigment migration, degradation, and arsenic transfer to adjacent books. This paper expands on initial findings through two related experiments. The first explored the transfer of arsenic using mechanical friction; Staedtler Mars® white vinyl erasers rubbed on arsenical books generated crumbs which were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Results confirmed the transfer of arsenic, copper, and lead, with decorative page edges being particularly prone to shedding arsenic onto other materials. The second experiment tested remediation methods on a book contaminated by prolonged exposure to an arsenical neighbor. Surface cleaning using erasers and a vacuum removed flecks of pigment but did not eliminate non-chromophoric arsenic as confirmed by SR analyses, which highlights its presence either as a degradation product embedded within the paper or present in the paper as part of its production process. Findings demonstrate the acute toxicity risk posed by arsenical books and support the need for safe handling protocols. However, materials with only trace levels of arsenic embedded during production may pose a lower risk of transfer. Cross contamination beyond prolonged direct contact appears limited. These results highlight critical considerations for library preservation practices and future research on arsenic in historical materials.

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