Environmental and Biological Factors

There are several forms of biological and environmental hazards that will cause deterioration to many museum objects. In general, adequate care, cleaning and regular monitoring will form a good basis on which to maintain sound storage and display conditions. As certain products that are in common use are detrimental to many materials found in museum collections it is necessary to check before using any cleaners, chemicals or treatments either directly on objects or in areas where they are stored or displayed.

Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH)

To avoid damage to collections it is important to maintain constant levels of temperature and RH and to avoid rapid fluctuations. High temperatures can cause an increase in oxidation, for instance a 10^OC rise in tem perature approximately doubles the rate at which chemical reactions proceed. An ideal constant temperature in the museum environment is 20^OC. 

Organic objects such as timber, paper, textiles, bone or ivory expand and contract in response to changes in relative humidity. Relative humidity (RH) is an indication of how much water vapour is in the air at a particular temperature. Ideally the RH reading should be between 40-60%. High RH (above 65%) can encourage the growth of mould and other fungi, cause swelling of moisture-absorbent materials and corrosion in metals, whereas low RH (below 40%) can lead to some organic materials drying out and becoming brittle. 

It is the fluctuations in temperature and RH that cause the most damage to collections. It is important to keep in mind that rapid change in temperature equals rapid change in RH. A rapid rise in RH causes dew to form, which accelerates corrosion and increases biological attack. If RH drops quickly then some objects tend to crack and warp and bonded materials may separate.

Light and UV

Light can seriously damage a wide variety of materials such as dyes and pigments, cellulosic materials like wood or cotton or proteinaceous materials like leather and wool. The amount of deterioration caused by light is proportional to both the light level (intensity) and the amount of time that an object is exposed to that light. For example, if the light level on an object is doubled, the same amount of deterioration will occur in half the time. The most harmful forms of light are direct sunlight and fluorescent lights due to their high UV content.

As a general rule, it is best to avoid direct sunlight and very intense lights and to limit the length of time that objects are exposed to light. Avoid storing or displaying objects close to windows, fluorescent lights or on west facing walls that get a lot of sunlight. Where possible it is better to use artificial light and eliminate direct sunlight by installing blinds, curtains or by blacking out windows. By using artificial light you can limit the length of time that objects are exposed to light, for example only lighting displays when visitors are in the museum. At the very least, windows in the storage and display areas should be covered with UV filtering film.

Insects and pests

Insects and pests can cause a great deal of damage to objects. Damage may be caused by the insects or pests eating materials, marking them by leaving droppings and regurgitated matter, boring into organic matter, making nests and so on. Insects and pests often thrive in environments with high relative humidity (RH) or high temperature and in poorly cleaned areas.

Keep all objects and their surroundings clean and separate from food areas. Regular inspections (three to six monthly) of the storage and display areas are important. Avoid storing objects in damp and cluttered spaces. If insect infestation occurs, a conservator should be consulted as soon as possible and an appropriate eradication plan implemented. It is important that the conservation department of the state museum be contacted for professional advice. Some common methods of fumigation are damaging to objects and staff alike and should not be used.

Pollutants

Pollutants can be broadly classified into two categories; particulate and gaseous. Particulate pollution (such as dust, dirt and fluff) can form an unsightly surface film and encourage fungal growth and insect attack. Particles can adhere to the surface of varnish and paint or become entangled in the fibres of textiles; the object will then require complex methods of cleaning that can be harmful and expensive. Raw concrete, plaster and textiles ie some carpets, curtains and soft furnishings can generate particulate pollutants and should be avoided where possible.

In some instances objects in collections may be exposed to salt from the sea air. Any salt spray will adversely affect both the organic and inorganic materials on display. Metals in particular will react by forming irreversible compounds from this oxidation process, which will cause the metals to deteriorate rapidly. Display cases or archival quality boxing and/or wrapping and good house keeping will eliminate problems with particulate pollutants and sea air.

Gaseous pollutants include many of the woods, glues, paints and other materials often used in the construction of buildings, cases, frames and in the objects themselves. The aging of these products can produce harmful vapours such as organic acids and formaldehydes. These substances can become quite concentrated and seriously damage the chemical structure of materials such as wood, paper, textiles, ivory, bone, and especially metals. Display and storage cases should never be constructed from untreated wood products, particularly chipboard, MDF and plywood because of this. Coated solid woods and metals are more suitable materials for case manufacture. 

As some off gassing occurs for a time after varnish and paint is applied to surfaces, it is important to air anything that is treated with these products well and to allow at least one week’s drying time between coats. Gaseous pollutants from industry such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone can also seriously degrade many materials. This is a problem that is not easily fixed by any single museum. 

Fungi

Under certain conditions fungi will attack organic materials such as wood, paper and cotton. The type and degree of deterioration can vary greatly, ranging from slight discolouration to total destruction. Fungi will germinate, grow and produce spores only when the RH is higher than 60%. By maintaining RH levels below this, fungal attack can be avoided. Storage and display areas should be kept well ventilated and maintained free from dust and dirt. Avoid damp areas such as basements and inspect items regularly for evidence of mould attack. If an attack is noticed, the object should be moved to a dry environment and the state museum’s conservation department be contacted.

Human influences

Objects are often extremely delicate due to construction methods and materials or as a result of deterioration. The simple act of touching an object can lead to deterioration as damaging acids, moisture or salts from the skin can transfer to the object. Vibration resulting from handling can also cause much damage to objects.

Objects should be handled as little as possible. If handling an object is necessary, wear clean cotton gloves or wash and rinse hands thoroughly every 30 minutes. Do not use handles or other protrusions for lifting or holding objects, as these are often the weakest point. Lift objects by cradling the base of the object with one hand and supporting the object with the other.

Note:

As many of the materials and techniques used by general framers can cause extensive damage to museum objects, framing should be entrusted solely to a specialised conservation framer. 

References and further reading:

Museums Australia Inc (NSW), Museum Methods, A Practical Manual for Managing Small Museums, Sections 4.2 Environmental deterioration; 4.3 Recommended environmental conditions for museum objects; 4.4 Environmental monitoring; 4.5 Light and Lighting; 4.6 Choosing the best display and storage materials and 4.7 Integrated pest management – using insect growth regulators

Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material, ReCollections; Visual Glossary

Museums and Galleries NSW, Online Resources; in particular: Managing pests in the collection, by History SA; Handle museum objects; Hazardous materials in museum collections; and Preventive conservation by Te Papa National Services