How these beautiful Victorian books can cause liver damage and skin problems
Prolonged exposure to multiple volumes in a certain colour can be a health hazard - and there is an interesting explanation
A deadly fashion trend from the 1800s is haunting modern libraries, as Victorian-era books laced with poisonous pigments continue to pose a hidden risk to readers and staff.
During the 19th century, a striking emerald green, made by mixing copper with arsenic, was all the rage. It coloured everything from wallpaper to children's toys, and even made its way into sweets. But one of its most lasting legacies can be found on the shelves of historic libraries.
Bookbinders of the Victorian era used arsenic, mercury, and chrome to craft vibrant covers designed to catch the eye. While many other items from the time have vanished, these books remain, creating a very 21st century health hazard.
Prolonged exposure to multiple green-bound volumes can lead to low-level arsenic poisoning. Over time, this can cause damage to the liver and kidneys, skin problems, anaemia and a weakened immune system.
In 2019, the Poison Book Project launched in Delaware, with experts from the Winterthur Museum and Delaware's state university teaming up to investigate.
They identified several toxic titles, including four in the National Library of France, which were immediately removed from public access.
Inspired by their work, preservative conservator Erica Kotze at the University of St Andrews decided to take action. She reached out to her colleague Dr Pilar Gil, a trained biochemist working in Special Collections, to find a safer and more practical method of identifying dangerous volumes.
"The most important thing was to find a non-destructive, portable instrument that could tell us if it was a poisonous book or not," Dr Gil told the BBC. X-ray technology was ruled out due to the fragility of the books. Instead, she borrowed a spectrometer from the university's geology department, typically used to detect minerals in rocks.
After testing hundreds of books, Dr Gil noticed a distinctive pattern. 'It was a 'eureka' moment. I realised it was something that no one had seen before.'
The team then partnered with the physics department to create a bespoke testing tool. Dr Graham Bruce, senior research laboratory manager, describes how it works: 'It shines light on the book and measures the amount of light which shines back.
"It uses green light, which can be seen, and infrared, which can't be seen with our own eyes. The green light flashes when there are no fragments of arsenic present, the red light when there are pigments.'
Smaller, cheaper and faster than a full spectrometer, the new device has already been used to test thousands of books at both St Andrews and the National Library of Scotland. The aim now is to share the technology with libraries and museums worldwide.
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'We're lucky as a large institution to have expensive kit,' says Dr Jessica Burge, deputy director of library and museums at St Andrews.
'But other institutions with big collections may not have those resources, so we wanted to create something which was affordable and easy. It doesn't require a specialist conservator or analysis, and it's instant.'
As time passes, the risk may only increase, with toxic books breaking down and releasing more of their hazardous particles. The goal is not to lock these books away forever, but to handle them safely and preserve access for future generations.
Dr Burge adds: 'Any book that's got a green cover from the 19th century is being restricted because they don't know. And as libraries and museums, that's not really what we're about. We want people to be able to use the books and help bring back access to collections, rather than restricting their use.'
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