Protecting Staff from Pesticides in Museum Collections

Abstract

This paper examines the practices and procedures that contemporary museums have, or have not, instituted to protect collections staff. It springs from a concern that many museums, especially small local ones, may not be taking basic precautionary measures to protect their staff from the serious threats to their health posed by the historic use of pesticides in museum collections. Though some collection objects are hazardous at time of manufacture (e.g., taxidermy) or are naturally so (e.g., radioactive materials), this paper will focus on safety hazards created by pesticides on collection objects. After a brief discussion of the historic use of pesticides in museum collections and its potential effects on human health, a basic set of budget-friendly guidelines is provided that any museum may institute in order to better protect museum employees charged with the handling of collection objects from most hazards.