Ethanol as Fungal Sanitizer in Paper Conservation
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English Slovak |
| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
| Online Access: | http://www.viks.sk/chk/res_2_00_101_115.doc |
| Abstract: | CONCLUSIONS. Turning to the initially addressed questions and considering the obtained results, the following can be concluded: ˙ Ethanol applied as a 70% aqueous solution did not prove sporicidal, according to the evaluation parameters and conditions used in this test. ˙ The test indicates that ethanol immersion is more efficient than spray treatment in delaying the colonization of some species, however favouring growth of others in these tests. ˙ The test does not indicate whether the status of the spores (swollen or dried) prior to treatment affects their vulnerability to ethanol, although theoretically swollen, mature spores would be easier to injure5 ˙ Indications on spore activating properties of ethanol, as claimed by Florian7, could not be either verified or dismissed according to the evaluation method adopted in this test. Due to these findings, the continued use of ethanol as fungal sanitizer in paper conservation is seriously questionable until further research has been performed, especially considering whether ethanol treatment lowers activation levels/arrests stasis of spores. A situation which may prove fatal is otherwise close at hand if humidity levels would experience a sudden rise, or fluctuate: a situation not rarely occuring. The relation between pre-drying, ethanol sanitizing and survival of germination potent propagules is another important scope that needs further investigation. The unrestricted use of toxic biocides has been far too common and is now hopefully rejected in conservation practice. However, the tendency of overbelief in "treatments" in the minds of many conservators, and the concept of ethanol sanitizing highlights this troublesome fact. The ideal "fungicide treatment" for conservation practice does not exist, and if it would, it could never solve the problem of fungal conditions; on the contrary: could enhance it. The overwhelming importance of preventive measures in order to control fungal biodeteriora-tion in paper collections cannot be over-emphasized. SUMMARIES. After discussing the basic data on fungal growth and the qualities of ethanol the results from a methodological study of the sporicidal efficiency of ethanol are evaluated. Spores from four different fungal species have been studied, applied as a mixed suspension inoculum. The sporicidal effects of ethanol applied as a 70% solution by spray and immersion to spore contaminated papers are compared to the effects of ethanol on mature and swollen spores from sporulating colonies on paper and to untreated reference samples. The results suggest that ethanol as applied is not sporicidal. |
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| ISSN: | ISSN 0034-5806 |
