Laura,

Just because you have peeling lead paint in a buliding does not
necessarily mean that the documents are badly contaminanted.

The problem is not with the big detaching peels of paint that you see
but in the fine dust and the oxides of lead in particular (those older
plastic blinds have the same issue with lead oxides being created by
their deterioration).

There are various ways of testing surfaces for detectable levels of
lead - I would talk to a paper conservator - but probably dry wiping
with a clean lab tissue and then testing that woud be the way to go.

You should have everyone wearing disposable gloves, tyvek suits, and
approved respirators / filters just as a precaution - and use a real
HEPA vacuam (that filters to 1 micron) - other vacuams will simply
pull the finest particles through then blast them out in the exhaust
plume.

The routes of entry for lead is either through eating/ingestion or
breathing fine particles.

And all staff who are in the building should wash their hands and
faces thoroughly befiore eating or touching anything.

After vacuaming you should bag the documents in acid free tissue, soft
tyvek, and then into a zip loc bag for transportation until you can
get a better assessment of the risk, if any.

I do alot of work with lead based objects and architecture that
involves old lead paints. It just takes common sense and caution - and
often, in an historic paint context, the lead paint can be safely
sealed and preserved rather than a full on abatement that is often
commonly done.

If you go to conservation online  (www.palipest.standford.edu) you
will find a whole section on safety issues that will be a good
resource for further information (you also should post on the CondDist
list for better advice too)

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator
Los Angeles, California





On 10/30/06, Laura Bachelder <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Hello all—
>
>
>
> My museum has been offered an important collection of documents related to
> one of the major industries in our community. They are located six stories
> up in an industrial complex now owned by the city and the main power cable
> was cut several years ago.
>
>
>
> The bigger issue, however, is that there is more paint—lead based, mind
> you---on the floor and the stairs that is actually still adhering to the
> walls. Our initial plan to remove these documents was to station volunteers
> on every floor and "bucket brigade" the documents down. However, now that we
> have spent an afternoon in the building assessing and inventorying the
> collection, we have new concerns on how to safely remove the documents with
> all this lead paint dust being kicked up as we go.
>
>
>
> Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? We had planned to go in with
> masks and gloves but then we would still, I presume, have to vacuum the
> documents after bringing them back into our museum. Is there a standard that
> anyone is aware of as to the length of exposure that can be undertaken
> safely if you are wearing protective gear? Does vacuuming safely remove the
> dust of would it just run the risk of spreading it around more?
>
>
>
> It is an important collection for documenting the communities industrial
> heritage, but it has become quite complex to get our hands on! Any advice
> would be greatly appreciated!
>
>
>
> Laura M. Bachelder, Curator of Collections
>
> Midway Village & Museum Center
>
> 815-397-9112 ext 108
>
> 815-397-9156 fax
>
>
>
>
>
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