[GBW] Chloramine-T

[Steven Hales <hales@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 8, 2007, at 1:09 PM, Peter Geraty wrote:

> As one of the many following this discussion, I am glad to see it.   
> I wish there were more discussions in a similar vein on many more  
> subjects.  The haphazard way many of us have learned our craft, can  
> leave some spotty knowledge.  There may be no fault in this, but it  
> is the responsibility of any practitioner to work within one's  
> knowledge base.  These discussions do a lot towards expanding that  
> base for all of us.

I quite agree with Peter's comments, and would welcome more such  
discussion. In particular, I would like to ask those more informed  
than I am about what scientific literature there is on Chloramine-T.  
If there really are long-term negative effects, there should be some  
literature. I did some searching myself (using Worldcat, Google  
Scholar, Wiley InterScience database, and the Guild of Book Workers  
site) and came up largely empty-handed. It is easy to find older  
papers/books recommending Chloramine-T, but not much that is  
critical. For example, this is the sum total of what Science for  
Conservators, vol. 2: Cleaning (Routledge, 1992) has to say on the  
subject:

"For awhile it was thought that chloramine-T residues were harmless,  
but now it is considered advisable to wash them out too, using either  
water or alcohol." (p. 113).

I also found an older article by Katherine G. Eirk, "An Experimental  
Evaluation of Accepted Methods for Removing Spots and Stains from  
Works of Art on Paper," Bulletin of the American Group. International  
Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, vol. 12,  
no. 2 (April, 1972) pp. 82-87. The only negative thing in it I could  
find about Chloramine-T was that a one-hour immersion in lowered the  
bursting strength of aged paper, although not drastically. This seems  
to be due to loss of sizing.

So far this is not much of an indictment. I assume there is a  
literature that examines Chloramine-T while controlling for variables  
such as immersion time, solution strength, post-bleach rinsing  
conditions, paper age, burst strength after resizing, Chloramine-T  
residue after rinsing, as well as longitudinal studies of paper that  
was washed with Chloramine-T 30 or 40 years ago. Microscopy of the  
paper fibers would also be helpful. If anyone could direct me to such  
literature I would be grateful.

I, for one, am certainly aware of lacunas in my bookbinding  
education. I just want to be confident that I am filling the holes  
with knowledge and not anecdotes.

Thanks,
Steve

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