A serious problem facing museum professionals is the protection of collections from damage due to insects. This book describes successful insect eradication procedures developed at the Getty Conservation Institute and elsewhere, whereby objects are held in an atmosphere of either nitrogen or argon containing less than 1000 ppm of oxygen—a process known as anoxia—or in an atmosphere of more than 60 percent carbon dioxide. Techniques, materials, and operating parameters are described in detail. The book also discusses adoption of this preservation technology, presenting the development of these methods and instructions for building and upgrading treatment systems, as well as recent case histories. The Research in Conservation reference series presents the findings of research conducted by the Getty Conservation Institute and its individual and institutional research partners, as well as state-of-the-art reviews of conservation literature. Each volume covers a topic of current interest to conservators and conservation scientists.

Surveys of natural history and art museums indicate that beetles belonging to the families Anobiidae and Dermestidae and moths belonging to the family Tineidae are major pests. Other groups such as termites and silverfish may also be extremely important, especially in southeast Asia. Current control recommendations include the use of space fumigation or surface residual spraying. In addition to the need to train museum personnel to use these insecticides, there is always the potential for damage to rare antiquities and artifacts. The primary objectives of this study were to determine: (1) if controlled or modified atmospheres were lethal and (2) to establish the minimum time required to provide 100% kill of all developmental stages of insects likely to infest materials, objects, and artifacts in museums.

One of the challenges in protecting and displaying environmentally sensitive objects is preventing deterioration caused by the presence of oxygen. This volume describes the design and construction of an oxygen-free, hermetically sealed, display and storage case developed by the Getty Conservation Institute for the long-term protection of such objects. The case was originally designed as a collaborative project between the Egyptian Antiquities Organization and the GCI to conserve the Royal Mummy Collection at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Seven chapters cover the protection of cultural objects from environmental deterioration by reducing exposure to oxygen and by using inert gases for biodeterioration control. Also included are details on how the design and construction of the oxygen-free case has been adapted for other applications, specifically for the original documents of the Constitution of India in New Dehli and for the mummy collections at the Egyptian Museum and at the Museu Victor Balaguer in Vilanova i la Geltru, Spain. The Research in Conservation reference series presents the findings of research conducted by the Getty Conservation Institute and its individual and institutional research partners, as well as state-of-the-art reviews of conservation literature. Each volume covers a topic of current interest to conservators and conservation scientists.

Insect pest control continues to be a challenge for agricultural producers and researchers. Insect resistance to commonly used pesticides and the removal of toxic pesticides from the market have taken their toll on the ability of agricultural producers to produce high quality, pest-free crops within economical means. In addition to this, they must not endanger their workers or the environment. We depend on agriculture for food, feed, and fiber, making it an essential part of our economy. Many people take agriculture for granted while voicing concern over adverse effects of agricultural production practices on the environment. Insect Pest Management presents a balanced overview of environmentally safe and ecologically sound practices for managing insects. This book covers specific ecological measures, environmentally acceptable physical control measures, use of chemical pesticides, and a detailed account of agronomic and other cultural practices. It also includes a chapter on state-of-the-art integrated pest management based, a section on biological control, and lastly a section devoted to legal and legislative issues. Insect Pest Management approaches its subject in a systematic and comprehensive manner. It serves as a useful resource for professionals in the fields of entomology, agronomy, horticulture, ecology, and environmental sciences, as well as to agricultural producers, industrial chemists, and people concerned with regulatory and legislative issues.

This book highlights the present status of manuscript collection in the different repositories of India, and also suggests some remedial measures which are required to be adopted for the proper conservation, care and management of manuscripts. It showcases the nature of base material, ink, pigments, binding materials, writing and illustration techniques used in different manuscripts, given the importance of having thorough knowledge about the chemical composition of different materials before adopting any kind of conservation practice. As dating of manuscript is a very difficult task, a great variety of techniques and methodology such as palaeography, style of writing, illustration and terminology, colophon, spectrometric methods, and radio carbon dating, among others, are discussed here. Furthermore, as prevention is better than cure, different preventive measures, including indigenous methods practiced during the ancient period for preservation of manuscripts, are also outlined, as are the hazards of using different chemicals for conservation of manuscripts.