Librarians breathe easy as tool spots toxic book pigment
Now scientists have devised a tool to identify hazardous books with green bindings which contain arsenic.
While exposure is unlikely to lead to horrific deaths with blackened fingers and tongues, as in the novel by Umberto Eco and the film of the same name starring Sean Connery, the toxic pigment can be harmful.
Publishers used arsenic to create a vibrant colour known as emerald green. Academics say that the risk to the public is low but frequent handling of the books can lead to health problems, including irritation of the eyes, nose and through — and potentially more serious effects.
Libraries and collections around the world have prevented access to parts of their book collections, including the French National Library last year.
Many institutions have forbidden access to all suspect green books from their collections as a precaution. Last year Bielefeld University isolated about 60,000 books, with other German universities following suit.
The University of St Andrews, which has developed the tool, said that testing had until now been a specialised, costly and time-consuming process, leading institutions to isolate swathes of books.
The device, developed in collaboration between the university's libraries and museums and its physics department, can quickly and cheaply detect the presence of toxic pigment in book bindings. It said that this would make it easier to distinguish hazardous books from those which are safe to handle and display.
Dr Graham Bruce and Dr Morgan Facchin, from the physics department, developed a portable tool to identify the poisonous books. It shines different colours of light onto the book, and analyses how much is reflected to provide a 'fingerprint' of pigments.
Bruce said: 'It is handheld and allows us to screen an individual book for the presence of emerald green pigment in a fraction of a second. It has been exciting to see it being used in libraries and collections across Scotland. Our team has been asked to look at thousands of books, of which over 100 have been identified as containing emerald green pigment.'
Historic wallpaper and textiles coloured green may also contain arsenic.
Dr Pilar Gil, a heritage scientist who led the research, said the starting point was a device used to detect minerals in rocks and the 'eureka moment' was discovering the unique reflective pattern from emerald green pigment.
Dr Jessica Burdge, assistant director of libraries and museums at St Andrews, said: 'This work is a brilliant example of how universities and research can solve real problems. The emerald green detection tool is the result of a collaboration that plays to the strengths of different expertise across the university.'
An exhibition, titled Poisonous Books, Dangers from the Past, which explores the project has opened at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews.
Mark Lorch, professor of public engagement and science communication at the University of Hull, wrote recently: 'During the 19th century, as books began to be mass produced, bookbinders transitioned from using expensive leather covers to more affordable cloth items. To attract readers, these cloth covers were often dyed in bright, eye-catching colours.'
Dyes quickly adopted for use in various items, including book covers, clothing, candles and wallpaper had a significant drawback, he said. 'They degraded easily, releasing poisonous and carcinogenic arsenic. The frequent reports of green candles poisoning children at Christmas parties, factory workers tasked with applying paint to ornaments convulsing and vomiting green water and warnings of poisonous ball dresses raised serious concerns.'
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