Lake Erie College STEMM Scholar and Biology Major Published| in Prestigious Journal
Lake Erie College’s Janet Wittine, Class of 2025, a STEMM Scholar, and biology major with a minor in chemistry, has co-authored an article titled Handling ‘Poison Books’: Dry Versus Wet Scenarios, which has been published in the scientific journal Studies in Conservation.
Wittine, alongside co-authors Melissa Tedone, PhD, and Rosie Grayburn, PhD, contributed to the article. Dr. Tedone, who initiated the Poison Book Project, specializes in Library Archives Conservation at Winterthur Museum in Delaware, while Dr. Grayburn, a conservation scientist with a PhD in chemistry, assists in the scientific analysis of these dangerous materials.
Their collaborative research uncovers the historical prevalence of arsenic-laden bookbindings, offering important insights into the conservation challenges of these toxic artifacts. This green powder, once used in insecticides, wood preservatives, and paint pigments, is now notorious for its toxicity and is no longer in use due to the health risks it poses.
During her summer internship at the Winterthur Museum, Janet worked on The Poison Book Project, which focuses on understanding the health risks associated with handling these arsenical bookbindings. Her team’s research focused on different cleaning methods for books containing copper acetoarsenite, providing valuable insights into the safety procedures necessary when handling these historical materials.
"The Poison Book Project uncovers hidden histories of the use of toxic substances in 19th-century books, revealing their negative impact on human health,” Janet said. “By preserving and studying these books, the project aims to protect cultural heritage and raise public awareness of the harmful, once highly sought-after pigment."
The article is an important contribution to the field of conservation science, offering guidance on the risks involved in cleaning arsenical books and the best practices for handling them safely.
To read the full article, visit Handling ‘Poison Books’: Dry Versus Wet Scenarios.
Lake Erie College congratulates Janet Wittine on her work with Melissa Tedone and Rosie Grayburn and looks forward to her continued success in the field of conservation.
To learn more about STEMM opportunities at Lake Erie College, click here.