AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Arsenic is a well-known hazardous material with potentially severe short and long-term health consequences that was a common component of 18th, 19th, and 20th century collection items. These items include a wide variety of natural science specimens and taxidermy mounts, pharmaceutical materials, dyes in textiles and paper, and historic dry pigments. While our understanding of the breadth of arsenic presence in cultural heritage items is growing, especially with recent work on its identification in the “Poison Book Project,” it remains difficult to determine actual exposure risks to conservators, museum staff, and the public.

This joint session between the Preventive Care Network and the Object Specialty Group will acquaint participants with the range of collection items containing arsenic as an intrinsic component, and will help initiate discussions among conservators about hazards, handling, and access. Panelists will present brief case studies to provide examples of risk management, exposure assessments, and handling protocols to control risks associated with these collection items.