DDT is another toxic substance that was used as an insecticide and has a
residual effect on objects. Arsenic and DDT are a pretty good reason to
wear gloves when handling museum collections.

Every year I am involved in giving basic conservation training to military
personnel who have been posted to Army museums in Australia. When we tell
them that they should wear gloves to avoid contaminating objects they are
usually sceptical. They soon develop thoughtful faces when we mention
arsenic and DDT used as insecticides, especially after they read what the
Merck Index has to say about absorbing DDT through the skin.


George Bailey
Conservation Section
Australian War Memorial

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