After it became known a few days ago that the library at Bielefeld University had blocked tens of thousands of books from being borrowed due to suspected arsenic, Viennese libraries are now also taking this approach. Books under suspicion are now being checked for the poison.
The Austrian National Library (ÖNB) announced on Friday that it will no longer issue books with green trim from the 19th century for the time being. They are previously tested for arsenic at the in-house restoration institute, the ÖNB’s general director told ORF. No concrete find yet. Initial tests have already been carried out on a small number of books. No arsenic was discovered. Many books do not need to be checked. The selection of books with green book edges is rather limited, it was said. Checks are also currently taking place in the library of the University of Vienna. The Vienna Library in the town hall wants to hand over corresponding objects for restoration and points out that many of the works are available digitally anyway. In any case, the libraries in Vienna took the occasion in Germany with humor. “Our books sometimes contain traces of kebab, Mannerschnitte and chips, but no arsenic,” the social media team of the city libraries tries to reassure its visitors. Arsenic is a poisonous element that occurs in nature, but also through people can be released. It can be in water, food and even the air, causing nausea, vomiting and even cancer. However, it is also used in small quantities in medicine and industry. Dust from books could be toxicArsenic is toxic. In the 19th century, arsenic compounds were sometimes used in the production of books and magazines. A possible danger can arise if the volumes are touched with green waste and your fingers are moistened with your tongue to turn the pages. The dust on the books could also contain arsenic and could be inhaled, or arsenic could get into the book by touching the volumes Eyes advised.
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