Arsenic-laced books removed from French library

 

Here's a summary of the recent incident involving arsenic-laced books being removed from the National Library of France:

1. Discovery of Arsenic-Laced Books: Four books from the 19th century have been removed from France's national library due to concerns that their covers may be laced with poisonous arsenic. These books, printed in Britain, all have emerald green covers, a color that was commonly achieved using arsenic-based pigments during the Victorian era.

2. Identification by Researchers: The potentially hazardous books were identified by researchers from the University of Delaware as part of the Poison Book Project. This initiative, in collaboration with Delaware's Winterthur Museum, has been testing book covers for heavy metals since 2019 and compiling a list of titles that may pose a health risk due to arsenic contamination.

3. Books Quarantined for Analysis: The National Library of France has placed the identified books in quarantine, and an external laboratory will analyze them to determine the level of arsenic present in each volume. While the library assures that handling these books would only cause minor harm, precautions are being taken to assess the extent of contamination.

4. Historical Use of Arsenic in Bookbinding: During the Victorian era, arsenic was commonly used to color book bindings, resulting in pigments like Paris Green, Emerald Green, and Scheele's Green. These pigments were popular for achieving vibrant green hues but posed health risks due to the toxicity of arsenic.

5. Global Impact: The discovery of arsenic-laced books extends beyond France, with similar incidents reported in other countries. In 2022, a rare book containing arsenic was found in a Leeds library, and books have also been removed from shelves in Germany as a precautionary measure against arsenic contamination.

6. Response and Further Examination: In response to finding arsenic-contaminated titles within its collection, the National Library of France plans to examine other books beyond those listed by the Poison Book Project. The World Health Organization warns against long-term exposure to arsenic, emphasizing its highly toxic nature in its inorganic form.