|
Biological Pests
If a mould outbreak does occur?
Isolate the affected material immediately. If possible, place it in a plastic bag and seal the bag.
Treat other items which have been in close contact with the affected material in the same way.
Throw away acid-free tissue and other storage materials which have been in contact with the affected object.
Find out what caused the relative humidity to be high enough to allow mould growth. If you are in a tropical area, the climate is the obvious culprit. But you should also check to make sure that there is no other secondary cause, for example, a blocked gutter overflowing.
Take steps to correct the problem. Clear the gutter, buy or borrow a dehumidifier, and change your storage system to allow more ventilation. It is important that you deal with the problem, or it will happen again.
If the outbreak is general and throughout a storage area, you may need to remove all of the items and thoroughly clean the whole area to stop the mould growing again.
Fumigate affected items, if possible. Seek the advice of a conservator before doing this, because some fumigants can cause damage. Regulations about the use of chemicals can vary from State to State, so check the regulations on the use of fumigants for mould, as well.
| CAUTION: |
| You should be aware that many chemicals which were used for fumigation treatments in the past are now banned because they are too toxic. If you are following instructions from an old museum manual, you may be breaking the law and putting people, including yourself, at unnecessary risk. |
Ideally mould should be killed before it is removed from the object. However, while there is a danger of spreading live spores to other objects, brushing mould off an object is better than leaving it there.
Clean objects using the brush vacuum method. This combines gentle brushing with vacuuming. To reduce the suction of the vacuum cleaner, cover the end with one or more layers of a gauze-like material. Then with a soft brush, push the mould toward the suction pipe of the vacuum cleaner.
| CAUTION: |
| Do not attempt to clean mould from an object which has a loose or fragile surface, for example, a pastel or charcoal drawing, a natural history specimen or an ochre painting, because the surface will also be removed. Seek the advice of a conservator before attempting these treatments. |
Items may require conservation treatment after mould attack—it is advisable to have them assessed by a conservator.
Once the area and the objects affected have been treated, put the objects back into storage in suitable wrappers and boxes.
Continue to check all of your collection.
| CAUTION: |
| If you are going to clean mould from objects, wear a mask so that you don't breathe in the spores. It is advisable to use HEPA filter vacuum cleaners. |
|
