At the Textile Museum we've had some success using Cimexa instead of diatomaceous earth (although this was for silverfish). Cimexa is essentially lab-made diatomaceous earth, and so it doesn't contain the crystalline silica that poses a risk of silicosis, but it does function the same way and could pose the same risk of just being a general desiccating irritant.
Gennifer Majors *Associate Conservator* Foggy Bottom: 701 21st Street, NW • Washington, DC 20052 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/Foggy+Bottom:+701+21st+Street,+NW%C2%A0+%E2%80%A2+Washington,+DC+20052?entry=gmail&source=g> Avenir Center: 44930 Knoll Square <https://www.google.com/maps/search/44930+Knoll+Square%C2%A0+%E2%80%A2+%C2%A0Ashburn,+VA+20147?entry=gmail&source=g> • <https://www.google.com/maps/search/44930+Knoll+Square%C2%A0+%E2%80%A2+%C2%A0Ashburn,+VA+20147?entry=gmail&source=g> Ashburn, VA 20147 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/44930+Knoll+Square%C2%A0+%E2%80%A2+%C2%A0Ashburn,+VA+20147?entry=gmail&source=g> [email protected] On Fri, Sep 18, 2020 at 11:11 AM Morris, Bernice < [email protected]> wrote: > Hello everyone, > > > > I’m in the planning stages of a campaign against an entrenched and > long-term webbing clothes moth infestation in several adjoining galleries. > I’m strongly in favor of a deep clean followed by the application of large > amounts of diatomaceous earth. Some DE would be applied to cracks and > crevices around platforms and below cases, but I’d concentrate large > amounts into interstitial spaces behind walls, and above the ceiling tiles > on the drop ceiling. > > > > I think I have a safe plan for the DE that would go in the lower > interstitial spaces, but I have concerns about its use near the ceiling air > vents since DE can be a respiratory irritant. Has anyone dealt with this > problem? Is there a way to protect or consolidate the DE so it does not > enter the HVAC system? Is there a better solution for the areas near the > air vents? > > > > I’d love to hear opinions from this always helpful group. > > > > Bernice > > > *Bernice Morris* > Associate Conservator of Costume and Textiles > > t 215-684-7579 > > f 215-684-7550 > > > > *Philadelphia Museum of Art *PO Box 7646, Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646 > www.philamuseum.org > > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MuseumPests" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/21572ca851b74e65b4126ca60b93a0d9%40philamuseum.org > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/21572ca851b74e65b4126ca60b93a0d9%40philamuseum.org?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MuseumPests" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pestlist/CAA9omnu5PD7p-TOb%2BdHdNUZmp7VvsWNq-01Tx15vD7LG-%3DysOg%40mail.gmail.com.
