Subject: UVC radiation and mold
Our library receives quite a number of books from South and Southeast Asia. Virtually all smell of mold and insecticides, which cause a variety of reactions in staff who must process the materials. It has been suggested that we might rid the books of mold by exposing them to UVC emitters, which employ C band ultraviolet short wave energy to kill molds (including spores), bacteria, and other microbes in about 3 seconds. I'm told that this technology produces no ozone, no gases or fumes, and will not harm equipment, furnishings, or humans (who are, however, advised to wear safety goggles to avoid conjunctivitis-like reactions to UVC). UVC emitters have been used in hospitals, dairies, meat processing plants, and other sites concerned with microbiological contamination. However, I've found no reference to UVC applications to decontaminate books. Has anyone heard of or experimented with this technology? Any opinions as to whether its effect on paper, cloths, etc., would be more or less deleterious than the action of the molds and other biological agents? Andrea Rolich University of Wisconsin-Madison B106d Memorial Library 608-262-0897 *** Conservation DistList Instance 11:72 Distributed: Tuesday, February 24, 1998 Message Id: cdl-11-72-013 ***Received on Friday, 20 February, 1998