| Abstract: | Summaries. Infection of storage rooms with insects and fungi and consequently the deterioration of documents of cultural value are a real problem in the conservation of our cultural heritage. To avoid fungal infection and insect infestation, proper preventive measures are a well controlled environment, with a relative humidity of about 50 % and a low temperature. In the course of time, several methods to control insects and fungi have been developed. The Central Research Laboratory felt the need for an inventory of existing methods that are an alternative to ethylene oxide fumigation. As a first step a literature study was carried out, then a proposal for further research was prepared. It seems that irradiation is the only alternative to ethylene oxide fumigation. A disadvantage of radiation is that the high energy causes excitation and ionization of molecules at which chemical bonds are broken and radicals are formed. The highly reactive radicals react so that degradation processes continue after the actual irradiation and it seems that irradiated paper and leather become more sensitive to new microbiological attacks after treatment. The Central Research Laboratory has started a preliminary study to compare the effects of gamma radiation and ethylene oxide fumigation on the ageing of various types of paper. |
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