Can't they just be discarded? I'm not aware that they are hazardous
materials. Burning, besides being hazardous in and of itself, might produce
and release gases, toxic or otherwise, that one would not want to breathe or
have in the immediate atmosphere.

In my experience with some personal items I had from my family, the objects
literally disintegrated into crumbs or shards. Some I kept to use as
teaching examples and the rest I tossed in the trash.

NP


----- Original Message -----
From: "Lisa Shockley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:13 PM
Subject: celluloid objects


> Has anyone had any experience with disposing of old, deteriorating
> celluloid objects? (Not nitrate film) Refrigeration slows down the decay
> process, but doesn't stop it. I was wondering what the recommended
> practice for disposal is. A chemist friend told me that with very small
> amounts (and I'm talking a hairpin) he would burn the material by
> putting it into a glass dish, soaking in alcohol and setting on fire. In
> an area where he wouldn't breathe the fumes. This isn't exactly the
> option for me.
>
> Any ideas, thoughts?
>
> --
> Lisa Shockley
> Collections Technician, Union Station, Kansas City
> KC Museum/Science City
>
> Where there is Peace, there is Culture;
> Where there is Culture, there is Peace.”   (Nicholas Roerich)
>
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