Conservation around the Millennium (Hungarian National Museum, 2001)

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CONCLUSIONS

We were able to establish that the measurable ethylene oxide concentration being loosed during restoration procedures from the components of books sterilised with ethylene oxide and aired for approximately five months is in accordance with health regulations set forth in presently valid standards. However, due to the fact that even one molecule of a carcinogenic matter can induce a malignant tumour, the carcinogenic effect of the matter cannot be excluded for certain even if the value limits are kept. There are no 100% safe concentrations or amounts of carcinogenic matters. This means that we try to keep the concentration of carcinogenic chemicals in the air of our working environment, or to keep the amount of time we spend in an environment contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals to the minimal. Furthermore, we have to provide well- balanced information to employees on carcinogenic chemicals and protect them from these in every way possible.

REFERENCE

1 HENGEMILLE, Frank-WEBERG, Norman-SHAHANI, Chandru J.: Desorption of Residual Ethylene Oxide from Fumigated Library Materials. Lecture at the ARSAG conference held in 1994 in Paris [p. 13.].

Authors’s addresses:

Beatrix Kastaly, department head

National Széchényi Library, Restoration Department

H-1054 Budapest, Hold u. 6.

Péter Schramkó, restorer Ars Alba BT.

H-2000 Szentendre, Alkotmány u. 14.

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