Output details

Developing a simple screening method for the identification of historic biocide residues on herbarium material in museum collections

Context

Until recently the museum sector were unaware that toxic compounds of mercury and arsenic residues still remain in significant quantities in many collections today. Professor Colston and Botanical Conservator at the NMW (Purewal) have develop a screening method to rapidly identify which samples in key collections are most highly contaminated, thereby ensuring the health and safety of museum staff.

Research

The research resides in the analysis of historic herbarium mount sheets NMW and the testing of a hypothesis (Colston), to enable the development of an innovative screening tool (Purewal and Colston).

Process

Colston developed the novel scientific concepts, led the research analysis and evaluation, and transferral of new knowledge in the sector.

The science involved complex analysis of historic material using non-destructive methodologies. Proton-induced X-ray emission was carried out with technical support from Roehrs.

Insights/contribution

The results have supported conclusively Colston’s hypothesis that historic pesticides will interact chemically with degrading paper to produce fluorescent products that can be readily observed under ultra violet light. No previous work has demonstrated a link between the presence of fluorescence in botanical collections and mercury content. This breakthrough will allow museums across the world to rapidly and economically assess the toxicity of their plant collections, without the need for expensive, time-consuming, and often inaccessible chemical analysis.

Sharing

The research process and outputs were shared with the museum sector through international conferences, seminars and workshops and through the HAMR website (www.hamr.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk), and internally through close engagement of conservators and scientists in the multidisciplinary Historic and Ancient Materials Research forum.

Contributors

Research was undertaken in collaboration with the Research Laboratories of the Louvre Museum (C2RMF), Paris, with funding from the EU Artech programme. This provided access to the linear accelerator at the Louvre – specialised equipment that is not available at the University of Lincoln.