Susan,

James Drusik at the Getty Conservation Institute looked into vikane
and its exposure to collections back in the late 1980's / 1990's.

He found that the commercially available vikane had residual organic
acids that when combined with ambient moisture could serious affect
museum collections. I talked to Jim about this back in the mid-1990's
and he recommended getting all sensitive collections out of the
building during the fumigation. Once the building is aired out then it
is safe to reinstall collections items.

We ended removing all metals, paintings, and reverse paintings on
glass, textiles, etc. from a historic building that was being
fumigated with Vikane.

So I would certainly recommend moving your photographic collections
elsewhere if you are going to fumigate with vikane. If you consider
any other chemical fumigant then you should check with a conservator
first about whether it is safe to let any collections ride through the
fumigation.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California


On 7/10/06, Susan Floyd <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Has anyone had experience negative or positive with a building which is
> going to be tented using the ingredient Vikane?  Are there any effects on
> photographic collections?
>
> Thanks,
> Susan
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