19th century Books that were covered with arsenic Â
Arsenic poisoning is identified as a historical concern, and in this context, it has been found that arsenic was a widely popular pigment that being used in bookbinding materials, specifically during the 19th century. You should be aware of the potential health risks which may be found in books that are contaminated with arsenic which contains various toxic properties. Scientists have also identified traces of toxic chemicals like arsenic in the covers of books, which may pose certain health threats to its users. The discovery of this element was found to be prevalent in the 19th century and elevated concerns among librarians and scholars similarly, forcing them to remove certain books from shelves that were contaminated with arsenic.
Old ones that come up with vibrant green covers from the 19th century is out to be covered with significant levels with arsenic. The 19th-century volumes printed in Britain that comprised green covers are found to have a considerable level of arsenic, and for this sort of reason, four pieces were removed from France’s national library that might be fastened with arsenic. It is worth pointing out that long-term exposure to arsenic can cause skin lesions and cancer, and it has been correlated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well.
This might be the reason that influenced France’s national library to eliminate books that may contaminated with significant amounts of arsenic. Although the library said the books may pose minor harm from handling them, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO long-term exposure to arsenic from food and drinking water pose a health threat, but WHO do not provide any particular advice for handling items that contain arsenic.  Â
Poison Book Project
The poison book project is of the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library and the University of Delaware to identify as well as catalogue books that were found to contain poisonous substances, specifically arsenic in Paris green pigments. It was initiated in the year 2019 when Winterthur staff members identified a book that contained paris green in the institution’s collection.
 The project, that is initiated by the staff members of Winterthur, confirmed that at least 100 other pieces from different libraries around the globe that contain Paris Green enable libraries to take effective measures to minimize the risk to those handling books that may laced with significant levels of arsenic. The foremost motivation of this project is to create awareness among the public about the detrimental health implications of arsenic.Â
The Poison Book Project and people who are associated with this project have updated the Books that contain arsenic with current results from an ongoing analysis of materials in  Winterthur Library and the Poison Book Project Study collection. The team, as of March 22 2024, identified the database of 19th-century books, mass-produced bookbinding with green covers containing arsenic, and arsenical green books list have been increased from 100 to 256 from 2019 to 2024.   Â
Why arsenic is poisonous to health? Â
Arsenic is a toxic element that often contaminates food and water sources that has had serious health consequences, and arsenic books that even have a low level of exposure may pose a significant health threat to the individual who is particularly frequently exposed to it. If someone accidentally ingests a high amount of arsenic, they may experience a series of vulnerabilities since arsenic could weaken the immune system.
This may lead to immune suppression and is found to be enough for a decline in immune response against infectious diseases. Many studies also show that arsenic may affect the heart and may lead to irregular heart rhythms that, over time, increase the risk of heart disease. Since many books may contain arsenic hence, it is recommended that after handling the book, washing hands afterwards could be a key to minimizing the risk of accidentally ingesting arsenic. Â
FAQ
1. Which Books that may contain with arsenic?
In the 19th century, arsenic was commonly used in various materials, including dyes and pigments for book covers and illustrations.
2. How do you identify books that may contain with arsenic?
 Older books with vibrant green covers or illustrations may contain arsenic-based dyes.
 Books published between 1850 and 1900 are more likely to contain these materials.
