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  • 1.  Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 07-29-2025 20:51

    Hello all! Is there a simple test (spot test?) to determine if a green coloured cloth bound book published in 1893 contains arsenic? Is there a list of published books that have tested positive for arsenic in their original binding?  (I realize that books can be rebound)  It is just one book privately held in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for your input!



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    Margaret Geiss-Mooney
    Costume/Textile Conservator
    meg@textileconservator.com
    (707) 763-8694
    Springfield, OR
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  • 2.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 07-30-2025 08:12

    Hi Meg, 

    Thanks for writing in! Fran Ritchie presented on Arsenic in Collections on the C2C site back in 2023 and had recommended two different kits: This one is just 5 tests (possibly more to your needs since it's a one-off item). A PDF of her presentation is here, the kits are listed on page 27.

    If you want more information, I highly recommend Fran's whole talk and presentation which can be found here: Arsenic in Collections

    All the best,

    Liz



    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Peirce
    C2C Care Community Monitor 7/21-8/3
    Conservator (Objects)
    Library of Congress
    Washington DC
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 07-30-2025 08:12

    Hi Meg, 

    I forgot to add the Poison Book Project's Arsenical Books Database - the University of Delaware has been compiling a list of books that have tested positive for arsenic in various collections. That database can be found here: Arsenical Books Database

    Dr. Melissa Tedone and Dr. Rosie Grayburn also presented on their research for C2C if you want to read more: The Poison Book Project

    All the best,

    Liz



    ------------------------------
    Elizabeth Peirce
    C2C Care Community Monitor 7/21-8/3
    Conservator (Objects)
    Library of Congress
    Washington DC
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 07-30-2025 15:16
    Margret,

    You might reach out to Nicole Grabow at Midwest Conservation Center I know she deals with testing for arsenic see link below for a video 


    In this video, Nicole Grabow, Objects Conservator at the Midwest Art Conservation Center, provides an overview of arsenic use as a pesticide in collections, other potential pesticides, a discussion of personal safety protocols, and step by step instructions to sample materials for arsenic testing. The video includes a demonstration of a chemical spot test to identify arsenic, how to set up ...
    sustainableheritagenetwork.org

    Anne Murray Chilton
    Murray Conservation Services
    3301 N Viewpoint Drive
    Midwest City, OK 73110
    405-618-8282






  • 5.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 07-31-2025 10:51
      |   view attached
    Dear Margaret,

    Toxic pigments like arsenic, which made Victorian-era books in the 1800s and the presence of substances found in poisonous books that are a high risk of health hazards during disasters and climate change. The pigments used to colour historic books often contain hazardous substances, posing significant handling risks. Notably, arsenic combined with copper forms a bright green pigment known as 'emerald green', prevalent in 19th-century books. This vivid green was widely popular and used in various everyday items, including clothing, artificial flowers, wallpapers, paints, sweet wrappers, and even cake decorations. 

    The identification of hazardous materials in collections can be determined by using non-destructive XRF analysis to detect elements of concern including lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Chrome yellow pigment (a synthetic pigment), PbCrO4 which contains lead and vermillion (bright red, can also be made from cinnabar, a natural mineral that contains mercury and sulfur) HgS, which contains mercury sulfide. In the case of arsenic, selected case studies show that arsenic is found in more places than initially expected. The analyses with XRF of collections materials being found in library and archives, the visual identification of arsenic, based on the colour of the material. Arsenic yellows (orpiment and/or realgar); copper-arsenic green, likely emerald green, green inks from typical arsenical greens, and dark reds contain varying levels of arsenic on paper artefacts. Historical research on poisonous books indicates that colours green and yellow, arsenic can March 2025 Valeria Orlandini also be found in materials in the red and mauve colour families, from arsenic used in the synthesis of aniline dyes.

    Valeria Orlandini
    Conservator of Works on Paper and Parchment
    Chevy Chase, MD
    Cel: 240-507-0797






  • 6.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 08-01-2025 07:57

    Hi Margaret, 

    At the KB National Library of the Netherlands we use a spot test for arsenic (Arsenic Test Strips, colorimetric 0.02-3 mg/L (As), MQuant<SUP>®</SUP> | Sigma-Aldrich). Please note that these tests have to be conducted with proper safety measures, since it produces hazardous arsenic gas. We do our testst in a fume hood. 

    Best,

    Foekje

    Head of collection care

    foekje.boersma@kb.nl 



    ------------------------------
    Foekje Boersma
    Head of Collection Care
    KB, National Library of the Netherlands
    Deventer
    Netherlands
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Determining Arsenic/heavy metals in a Green Coloured Cloth Bound Book published in 1893

    Posted 08-04-2025 10:26
    Hello,

    You might also be interested in the University of Delaware's Poison Book Project. On the website menu at the top you can choose Is My Book Arsenical? or navigate to "Resources" and select IDing Arsenic Bookbindings.

    A while ago I attended a workshop on their project and identifying poisonous books. It was super interesting and realized we have a few in our collections. At the Resources link in the menu above, there is a database of books that have arsenical covers.

    I hope this is helpful!

    Best,
    Meghan



    Meghan Bailey

    Associate University Archivist for Collection Management

    Joseph P. Healey Library

    University of Massachusetts Boston
    http://openarchives.umb.edu
    http://blogs.umb.edu/archives

     

     




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