Re: Lead contaminated textiles

["Nunnikhoven, Karin (MTR)" <Karin.Nunnikhoven@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Mary and Margaret,

        By dry clean- I mean with a dry soft cloth (alike to a soft
dusting). The lead dust is particulate matter left behind from the HEPA
vacumming (apparently HEPA collects about 95% of the heavy lead dust,
but leaves behind up to 5% of dust particulate which still has lead in
it, and therefore recontaminates everything when dusting or sweeping
occurs).

Thanks for your responses, and I hope to hear many more,
Karin 

-----Original Message-----
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:TEXCONS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Margaret Geiss-Mooney
Sent: June 4, 2007 9:01 PM
To: TEXCONS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Lead contaminated textiles

Good evening, TexConLers - I read it as "dry cleaned", run thru a
drycleaning machine using one of the drycleaning solvents. Which means
the drycleaning equipment and solvent are now contaminated and probably
the personnel as well. So, please, Karin, clarify the situation for us
all.
Regards,
Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney
Textile/Costume Conservator
Professional Associate, AIC
mgmooney@xxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----

When you say drycleaned, do you mean that the building, the walls, and
the entire collection were vacuumed with HEPA vacuum cleaners or was it
in combination with compressed air? Is the lead contamination in the
form of a particulate? A dust?

Mary W. Ballard
Senior Textiles Conservator,
Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution 4210 Silver Hill
Road, Suitland MD 20746 U.S.A.
tel: 301-238-1210 fax: 301-238-3709
email ballardm@xxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: Textile Conservators [mailto:TEXCONS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Nunnikhoven, Karin (MTR)
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 11:38 AM

Hello,
        I am the Curator for a historic site in Penetanguishene,
Ontario. Recently, our historic building was undergoing some intensive
renovations, including repainting. During the sanding of the window
panes and trim, it was discovered that the paint was lead based.
Unfortunately, all the artefacts, including textiles were under plastic
covers in the building but were contaminated.
        A restoration company had been called in to dry clean the
artefacts and textiles, but unfortunately the artefacts are still
testing to high for lead.
        Has anyone ever dealt with wet cleaning lead contaminated
textiles? If so, what soap products were used? What techniques were
used?
Any and all information on this subject would be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Karin Nunnikhoven
Curator
Huronia Historical Parks
P.O. Box 160
Midland, Ontario
L4R 4K8
(705) 528-7686
Karin.Nunnikhoven@xxxxxxxxxx
www.hhp.on.ca

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