[Nhcoll-l] When does wooden cabinet apply?

[Mariana Di Giacomo]

Dear Lennart,

Wooden cabinetry is normally not desired because of the off gassing of
formic acid, which in turn can cause Bynes disease or other efflorescence
issues on mollusks and eggshells, among others. However, there is a chance
that if your cabinets are very old, the off gassing of formic acid has
already occurred and the cabinets are no longer a problem, but that is not
always the case. That said, formic acid is not the only compound wooden
objects may off gas, so you never know how these volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) will interact with your collections.

Whether you have older or newer wooden cabinets in your collection, testing
is always a good idea. I would recommend getting something like A-D strips
to monitor the inside of the cabinets (I don't know how these are marketed
in Europe). These were initially developed for acetic acid but have proved
useful for formic acid as well. Also, you can set up a VOC test with a
chemist or industrial hygienist.

Finally, I recommend this paper by Kaczkowski *et al.* 2017:
https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/32603/Investigation%20of%20Residual%20Contamination%20Inside%20Storage%20Cabinets%20Collection%20Care%20Benefits%20from%20an%20Industrial%20Hygiene%20Study.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

If you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Best,
Mariana

*Mariana Di Giacomo, PhD*
*Natural History Conservator, Yale Peabody Museum*
Coordinator, ICOM-CC Natural History Collections Working Group
Co-chair, Emerging Professionals Committee, SPNHC
Associate Editor, Collection Forum, SPNHC


El jue., 10 sept. 2020 a las 12:17, Lennart Lennuk (<
Lennart.Lennuk at loodusmuuseum.ee>) escribió:

> Dear specialists,
>
>
>
> I wonder on what collections the wooden cabinets are safe to use?
>
> I read that for example eggs and mollusc shells there is a gaseos vapor
> hazard.
>
> I went through ConserveOGram and Museum Handbook but did not find any
> information
>
> on herbarium for example.
>
>
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Lennart Lennuk
>
> Head of zoology
>
> Estonian Museum of Natural History
>
> +37256569916
>
>
>
>
>
>
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