RE: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread Cara Kuball 

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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

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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

RE: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread RAHUL RAINA HANDOO 

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Hi,
As a traditional method employed in India, in order to reduce the odor of
mothballs, you can use either tea bags/leaves or sun-dried azadirachta
leaves(dried in shade).
It is a convenient method plus a very inexpensive method but it they should
be constantly changed after a fortnight.
Azadirachta leaves also serves for anti-insecticidal treatment..

Regards

Rahul Raina

Art Conservator
India


On 26-Apr-2017 10:26 PM, "Jablonski, Megan T CIV NHHC, NUM" <
megan.jablon...@navy.mil> wrote:


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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]
On Behalf Of Cara Kuball
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 9:29 AM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: [Non-DoD Source] [pestlist] mothballs

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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   | 617-369-3953 http://www.mfa.org/






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RE: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread Jablonski, Megan T CIV NHHC, NUM 

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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] On 
Behalf Of Cara Kuball
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 9:29 AM
To: 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 To 
unsubscribe look at the footer of this email.
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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   | 617-369-3953 http://www.mfa.org/ 
 

 

 

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Re: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread Michael Rebman 

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I checked the Museum-L Listserv archives and online, and it seems the best
ways to remove mothball odor are (a) airing out the items, with exposure to
heat and strong air circulation to draw the odor out of the items; or (b)
storing the items in a sealed container with absorbent materials, like
kitty litter, baking soda, or activated charcoal, and replacing the
absorbent materials as needed until the odor is gone.  The residue will
still be there.  Marc Williams of the American Conservation Consortium
posts at the Museum-L Listserv, and is knowledgeable of mothball mitigation.

Thank you,

Michael R
​.



On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 10:28 AM, Cara Kuball  wrote:

> ---
>
> 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 | 617-369-3953
> http://www.mfa.org/
>
>
>


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Re: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread Paul Storch 

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What are the materials and types of objects that have the contamination?

"Mothballs" are usually either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, but are
highly volatile organic chemicals (VOC's).  The TLV for p-dichlorobenze is
75 ppm, and napthalene is 10 ppm.  You'll need to use organic vapor
pesticide-rated cannisters on your respirator, if you use one and a fume
hood is recommended as well.

Most likely, the best method will be the use of an absorbant to pull out
the odor molecules.  More information on the objects will be helpful to
make more specific suggestions.

Paul Storch

On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 11:28 AM, Cara Kuball  wrote:

> This is a message from the Museumpests.net  List.
> To post to this list send it as an email to 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 | 617-369-3953
> http://www.mfa.org/
>
>
>
>
>
> -
> 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
>
>
>
>



-- 
Paul S. Storch
Project Specialist III /Sites Collections and Exhibits Liaison
Facilities-Historic Properties Department
Facilities and Risk Management Division
Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd. West
Saint Paul, MN 55102-1906
(651) 259-3257
paul.sto...@mnhs.org

Visit Historic Sites!
www.mnhs.org


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RE: [pestlist] mothballs

2017-04-26 Thread William Shepherd 

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Hello Cara,

It'll depend on the items themselves but if you're just looking 
to remove or reduce the odour, could you place them in an enclosed environment 
with a container of activated charcoal or baking soda? You may need to do 
something a bit more intensive at which point a conservator may need to come in 
but it's worth a try.

William Shepherd
Collections Officer
Swift Current Museum
44 Robert Street West
Swift Current, Saskatchewan
S9H 4M9
Phone: 306-778-4815
Fax: 306-778-4818

From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On 
Behalf Of Cara Kuball
Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 10:29 AM
To: pestlist@museumpests.net
Subject: [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
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 | 617-369-3953
http://www.mfa.org/



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