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Thank you all, for your extremely helpful answers and directions to further resources! Best, Cara -- Cara Kuball Collections Manager for Preventive Conservation Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ckub...@mfa.org<mailto:ckub...@mfa.org> | 617-369-3953 http://www.mfa.org/ From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of Kerith Koss Schrager Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 1:39 PM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: RE: [pestlist] mothballs This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Here are some specific resources: An article that details the reduction of mothball residues: Heald, Susan and Odile Madden. 2011. Investigations into naphthalene mitigation on museum objects. NATCC Preprints, 8th North American Textile Conservation Conference, pp.291-297. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281441456_Investigations_into_naphthalene_mitigation_on_museum_objects Here is a quick summary of the article from the AIC distlist: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/2014/0971.html A SPNHC poster also describes a similar reduction process: Purewal, Victoria and Belinda Coston. Novel detection and removal of hazardous biocide residues historically applied to herbaria. https://museum.wales/media/32289/SPNHC_Posters_1.pdf For information about risks: Makos, Kathryn and Catharine Hawks. 2014. Collateral Damage: Unintended consequences of vapor-phase organic pesticides, with emphasis on p-dichlorobenzene and naphthalene. MuseumPests.net http://museumpests.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/4-1-Hawks-and-Makos-paper-formatted.pdf For a bibliography of more residue-related resources: http://museumpests.net/resources-2/solutions-residual-pesticides/ On Apr 26, 2017 1:32 PM, "Kerith Koss Schrager" <conservation.obje...@gmail.com<mailto:conservation.obje...@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi Cara, As a previous poster noted, mothballs are usually paradichlorobenzene-PDB, naphthalene, or a mixture and both have serious health concerns. The objects should be isolated or kept in a well-ventilated area and clearly labeled so people know to open them with appropriate PPE. Below is an excerpt from the answer to a question involving textiles from our Connecting to Collections Care webinar, "Arsenic and Old Lace: Controlling Hazardous Collection Materials." As a conservator, I would strongly recommend against displaying them with other objects, even after they've been "treated," since you will likely not be able to get all of it out and these chemicals have been shown to deposit on other objects and storage and display cases. I would also get a health and safety professional involved before you consider placing them I'm an exhibit where the public may be exposed. Your best bet is to consult with conservators there at the MFA since they are familar with health and safety issues of exhibitions. Kerith Co-Chair, AIC Health & Safety Committee https://www.connectingtocollections.org/arsenic-and-old-lace-controlling-hazardous-collection-materials/ "We are assuming “mothballs” are either paradichlorobenzene-PDB, naphthalene, or a mixture of the two (both have serious toxicity issues). It is impossible to tell the difference without testing. They have different melting points, so that is one of the simplest ways to determine which one is present. Camphor is a terpenoid that has long been used as a pest repellant. It is toxic to people, as are almost all plant-derived aromatics. Obviously the first item would be the physical removal of all remaining crystals. Next, airing out of textiles or other materials, ideally under a lab fume hood but outdoors on a breezy, moderately warm day would help, under a small tent or some other means to protect against light damage. The textiles should be examined carefully to be sure no pests are present prior to rehousing. If they are to remain in the wooden storage trunks, it can be assumed that the trunks should also be aired well – naphthalene, PDB, and camphor will all be absorbed by the wood. The airing is unlikely to completely clear any of these from either the textiles or the wood, so it may be prudent to look into the use of scavengers (e.g., activated charcoal, MicroChamber board) and to repeat the airing annually for a few years. To protect against pest ingress, it may also be worthwhile to look at ways to ensure that pests cannot enter the trunks. Something as simple as plumbers’ tape (Teflon tape available at hardware stores or sold as Relic Wrap by conservation suppliers) might work, depending upon the configuration of the trunks. Any additional sealing of the trunks would reinforce the need for periodic airing and/or use of scavengers. -Catharine Hawks with Kathryn Makos" On Apr 26, 2017 12:54 PM, "Jablonski, Megan T CIV NHHC, NUM" <megan.jablon...@navy.mil<mailto:megan.jablon...@navy.mil>> wrote: This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- We've had some success using an unscented kitty litter to eliminate mothball odor. We put the stinky artifacts in an open plastic bin, which is then placed into a larger bin. The base of the larger bin is lined with the litter, and the smaller bin with the artifacts is placed on top of that litter layer. Once that is set, put the lid on the larger bin, and wait! -----Original Message----- From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net> [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net>] On Behalf Of Cara Kuball Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 9:29 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> Subject: [Non-DoD Source] [pestlist] mothballs This is a message from the Museumpests.net List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net<mailto:pestlist@museumpests.net> To unsubscribe look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Hello all, I am looking for recommendations of literature about the safe removal of mothball residue and scent (I do not have any information about the exact chemical or product used; I am simply faced with some artifacts with VERY strong scent of mothballs). All I can gather is that PPE and fume hood will be required for work on the objects, but I am wondering in particular if there is a way to significantly reduce-or remove, ideally-the scent and residue so that objects are safe to display in public areas and with other art objects. Please reply with any suggestions you might have! Thank you kindly. Best, Cara -- Cara Kuball Collections Manager for Preventive Conservation Museum of Fine Arts, Boston ckub...@mfa.org<mailto:ckub...@mfa.org> <mailto:ckub...@mfa.org<mailto:ckub...@mfa.org>> | 617-369-3953<tel:617-369-3953> http://www.mfa.org/ <http://www.mfa.org/> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net<mailto:imail...@museumpests.net> and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com<mailto:l...@zaks.com> ------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com