The seemingly harmless covers of 19th-century books might harbor a potentially lethal secret—the presence of toxic elements that have remained hidden for decades, lurking on the shelves of libraries and private collections worldwide.
The discovery began in 2022 when a librarian at the Winterthur Library in Delaware (United States) decided to conduct chemical tests on a 19th-century book with a suspiciously flaking green cover. This revealed the presence of arsenic and triggered a nationwide awareness campaign called the “Poison Book Project,” aimed at informing libraries about this phenomenon and providing them with the necessary tools to identify, assess, and safely handle these literary treasures that have inadvertently become potential health hazards.
Inspired by this pioneering initiative, Jan Cohu, a systems librarian at Beaman Library at Lipscomb University (Nashville, Tennessee), decided to undertake a similar mission at her own institution. She embarked on the arduous task of identifying potentially dangerous 19th-century books in the Beaman Library collections, for which she sought the collaboration of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to analyze the chemical composition of the dyes used in the covers of these old volumes.
The project has highlighted the presence of arsenic in books with covers displaying a characteristic bright green color, attributed to the use of copper acetoarsenite, a highly toxic pigment commonly used during the Victorian era—not only in book manufacturing but also in a wide range of household products, from wallpapers to dresses, with no awareness of the dangers it could pose to human health.
However, the research conducted at Beaman Library has yielded surprising results that broaden the spectrum of the threat beyond arsenic: analyses have revealed significant concentrations of lead and chromium in the yellow pigment used on the covers of several books, suggesting the presence of the toxic chrome yellow pigment.
In light of these findings, American libraries have begun implementing safe handling and storage protocols for these potentially toxic collections. This includes removing from circulation books containing high levels of hazardous substances such as lead chromate, a measure that, according to Cohu, does not represent a great loss, given that there is no significant waiting list for these titles, but it is essential to ensure the safety of our users and staff.
This initiative is providing crucial data on the levels of lead and chromium in the pigments used in the bindings of 19th-century books, information that complements and expands on previous findings primarily focused on the presence of arsenic in emerald green pigment.
SOURCES
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A Shipwreck from the 6th Century BC, Stone and Iron Anchors, Found Off the Southern Coast of Sicily
A highly significant archaeological discovery has come to light in the waters of Santa Maria del Focallo, in the municipality of Ispica, Ragusa province, Sicily. During an underwater excavation campaign,…
A heroon with intact tombs filled with luxurious jewels and lions sculpted in Pentelic marble, found in the ancient Greek city of Ripes in Achaea
At the beginning of October, the systematic archaeological excavation season concluded on the Trapezá plateau, located eight kilometers southwest of Aigio, Greece. This site is identified with the ancient city…
Statue Possibly Representing Cleopatra VII and Numerous Coins Featuring Her Effigy Found at the Temple of Taposiris Magna, West of Alexandria
The Egyptian-Dominican archaeological mission, led by Dr. Kathleen Martínez in collaboration with the National University Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), has made new discoveries at the Temple of Taposiris Magna, located…
Roman Soldier Flaccus’ Tomb Discovered in the Netherlands, Dating to the Late 1st Century BCE
In late November 2024, during archaeological investigations conducted in Heerlen (Netherlands), an exceptional discovery was made: the tomb of a Roman soldier named Flaccus. This find, dating to the late…
The Mystery of the Mardaites: The Christian Highlanders Who Maintained Their Autonomy Between Byzantium and the Caliphate
In the province of Hatay, in southern Turkey, there is a mountain range locally known as Nur Dağları. Arabs call it Jabal al-Lukkam, and in Spanish, its Greek name, Amanus,…
The Jaxartes River, the Battle Where Alexander Defeated the Scythians Using Catapults, Wounded and with Nearly His Entire Army Sick with Dysentery
As its name indicates, the Spanish Cape of Finisterre (finis terrae) was considered in Antiquity as the westernmost limit of the known world. But where was the eastern border located…
Nature of the Enigmatic “Armas de la tierra” of the Coronado Expedition in the 16th Century Revealed
Recent research has unveiled the nature of the weaponry used by Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s expedition (which crossed the present-day U.S. states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas),…
A Megalography Depicting a Rare Mythological Scene of Achilles and Bronze Statuettes Found in a Roman “Domus” in Reims
The urban organization of Durocortorum, the Gallo-Roman city now known as Reims in France, faithfully adhered to the principles of Roman urbanism. The city was divided into blocks bounded by…
Neolithic Rondel Found in Poland Reveals These Ceremonial Centers May Have Been Managed by Organizations Similar to Secret Societies 7,000 Years Ago
An archaeological discovery in the locality of Nowe Objezierze, in the northwest of Poland, has led to a significant breakthrough in understanding the Neolithic societies of Central Europe. An interdisciplinary…
New Geoarchaeological Evidence Challenges the Identification of Kalkriese Hill as the place of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Kalkriese Hill, located in northwestern Germany, has been identified for decades as a potential site of the historic Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE, a decisive confrontation between…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
