Click on the presentation title to access a pdf of the paper text or poster
PRESENTATIONS
Anoxibug®: Application of a Static Reduced Oxygen System for Treatment of Infested Library and Archive Collections at the Bodleian Library
Kristie Short-Traxler and Alexandra Walker, Oxford University Library Services, Bodleian Library, UK
Some library and archive objects due to their inherent make-up, conservation history, fragility or other practical reasons present a problem in terms of available infestation treatment methods. In addition to preservation requirements, reduced resources require methods that are easily affordable and sustainable by various library staff with little or no training in laboratory procedures. The use of Anoxibug®, a new commercial oxygen absorber from the IMC Group Ltd’s Hanwell range, is discussed. Previous studies have shown that prolonged exposure to low oxygen atmospheres is lethal to a wide range of insect species and their various developmental stages. Reduced Oxygen atmospheres have been used in three ways: dynamic, static and hybrid systems. Static systems which do not employ the additional use of an inert gas have been limited in scope to treatment volumes of 100 L or less. This is due to the fact that the previous scavengers used for oxygen reduction were very small and expensive and maintaining oxygen levels was difficult. With the Anoxibug ® system, the oxygen reduction is produced on a larger scale and the bag and indicator are reusable. The initial trial investigates the effectiveness of the system in killing larval and nymph stages of the insects as well as maintaining suitable environmental control inside the bag. We also discuss the practicality of the set-up and maintenance of the system during the treatment. Finally, the paper will look at how the initial test results are shaping future control strategies for the Bodleian Libraries.
POSTERS
Foam Deformation and CO2 Treatments
Joelle D. J. Wickens, William Donnelly and Samantha Tutone, Winterthur Museum
Low oxygen pest eradication using CO2 has been considered a safe method for objects of historic and artistic value. For the large majority of objects this appears to continue to be true. However, some foams have been found to distort during or just after being removed from a CO2 treatment. The distortion in several foams includes expansion, contraction or some of each. This poster will report on the results of initial experiments designed to identify the types of foam which distort and the extent of the distortions. The level of distortion is measurable and significant enough to cause visible changes in an object with a foam component. It will also loosely quantify any observed recovery from distortion, which in some cases is not complete over a year after the treatment was carried out. The current state of research seeking to determine why the distortion occurs and whether there is a way to prevent it will also be presented.
Approval and control of success with anoxic nitrogen treatments for eradication of pests – Research and development in the use of target insect species as reference testing material
Bill Landsberger, Rathgen Research Laboratory, National Museums Berlin
In most cases, pests that cause damage to collections may not be visible or, if they are, may not be identifiable at the species level. The lack of firm identification is important because there is a wide range in different species’ tolerance of low oxygen conditions. It is best to be able to verify success of any treatment using test insects in an appropriate setup, to ensure that mortality rates are not overestimated due to stress factors under unnatural conditions. When generating or flushing nitrogen for treatment, lose of water is an important fact in reducing life expectancy. Otherwise, resources for metabolism take different effects to different development stages. This paper will discuss present a case study, in which different methodologies for giving proof of success for anoxia treatment were investigated to control a serious infestation of archive materials by the drugstore beetle Stegobium paniceum (L.)