Discover the hidden dangers of old books - they may be toxic! Leila Ais, a biochemistry student at Lipscomb University, warns librarians about the risks associated with handling these vintage treasures. Using advanced technology, researchers identified toxic metals like lead and chromium in the covers of 26 colorful books from the university’s collection. Among the findings were compounds like crocoite and lead sulfate, commonly found in the vibrant pigment chrome yellow. Even famous artists like Vincent van Gogh used this toxic pigment in their masterpieces.
Date: 2024-08-18 04:00:00
Source: www.sciencenews.org