INFS 423 Preservation of Information Resources Session 5 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education

2015/2016 – 2017/2018

INFS 423 Preservation of Information Resources

Session 5 – Atmospheric Pollution as a factor of Deterioration Lecturer: Mr. Michael Allotey, Dept. of Information Studies Contact Information: mallotey@ug.edu.gh

Session Overview

In session 4, I took you through the impact of light, both natural and artificial on documentary materials and how to forestall damage to

• documents. In this Session and still on the topic “Chemical

Deterioration”, I will be introducing you to another deadly environmental agent of deterioration – atmospheric pollution which also causes damage to documents. I will take you through the types

• f pollution, the damages they cause and how to minimize the

damages.

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Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• Topic One: Defining Pollution
• Topic Two: Gaseous Pollutants
• Topic Three: Particulate Pollutants
• Topic Four: Monitoring Pollution
• Topic Five: Control of Pollution

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Reading List

Akussah, H. (2011). Preservation of Documents. Department of Information Studies, Legon, NAB Superior Services. Gorman, G. E., & Shep, S. J. (2006). Preservation management for libraries, archives and museums. London: Facet Pub. Adcock, E.P. (2000). Principles for the care of handling of Library

• Materials. Washington, D.C., IFAPAC.

Swartburg, S. G. (1983). “Conservation Library.” A Handbook of use and care of traditional materials. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1983. Feather, J. (2004). Managing preservation for libraries and archives: current practice and future developments. Aldershot, Hants, England, Ashgate Publishing.

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DEFINING POLLUTION

Topic One

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Defining Atmospheric Pollution

This refers to impurities either in gaseous form or materials which are dangerous to documentary

• materials. These impurities can initiate or hasten the

rate of deterioration of documents. These impurities are called pollutants. There are two categories of pollutants or impurities, these are:

• gaseous pollutants
• particulate pollutants.

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GASEOUS POLLUTANTS

Topic Two

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Gaseous Pollutants

• These are toxic gases present in the atmosphere which

readily hasten chemical deterioration of documents under favorable conditions. That is, in the presence of moisture and high temperatures.

• Gaseous pollutants include sulphur dioxide, nitrogen

dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide.

• The major source of these gases is the burning of fossil
• fuel. Fossil fuel includes coal, petroleum, kerosene,

diesel, etc.

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Gaseous Pollutants

• Air pollution can be a serious hazard to records and archives,

particularly in urbanized or industrialized areas. Industrial gases, chemicals, car exhaust and other toxins generate

• pollution. This is to say, these gases are most prevalent in

industrial and urban areas where there are factories, power stations and high concentrations of automobiles.

• Ozone, another gaseous pollutant, is a strong oxidizing agent

that causes sever damage to organic materials. It is generated from automobile exhaust, electronic filtering systems in some air conditioners as well as electrostatic photocopy machines.

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Effects of Gaseous Pollutants on Documents

• These gases, standing on their own in their natural state are

not too dangerous to organic materials but in the presence of water:

– Sulphur Dioxide = Sulphuric acid – Nitrogen Dioxide = Nitric acid – Hydrogen Sulphide = Sulphuric acid – Carbon Monoxide = Carbonic acid

• These acids are strong and corrosive and have a deteriorative

effect on paper and other record materials. They turn paper brownish and make them brittle resulting in a final loss.

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Activity 5.1

Describe the location of a public library or archives or archives close to you. Given the activities going on around the library or archives, identify three source and types of pollution probable.

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PARTICULATE POLLUTANTS

Topic Two

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Particulate Pollutants

• These are impurities in the atmosphere that are not

gases but particles. As particulates absorb moisture, they become sites for harmful chemical reactions. These particulates can be

• dust and dirt
• smoke and soot

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Particulate Pollutants

• Dusts are fine particles of sand floating in the atmosphere. It is

mostly concentrated in rural areas where there is high concentration of untarred roads and also, in some urban areas. It is dangerous to documents in two ways.

– Firstly, they are abrasive: they settle on documents and in wiping them, they scratch the documents. – Also, they form nuclei around which water collates. Water is therefore introduced and it becomes mud and stains the document. It also results in the smudging of soluble inks.

• Smoke and soot result from incomplete combustion. Smoke is not

actually dangerous to documentary materials but to human health. It can cause suffocation. Soot is oily and black and can easily stain and disfigure documents. It is also difficult to remove.

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Effects of Particulate Pollutants on Documents

• Particulates often contain traces of metal such as

iron, which can catalyze degradation.

• Over time, the particles can become imbedded in

paper fibres causing them to weaken.

• Dust, dirt and other particles can absorb gaseous

pollutants, which then penetrate materials and promote chemical and physical deterioration.

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MONITORING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Topic Three

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Monitoring Pollution

• This is an expensive exercise.
• Monitoring involves the use of expensive
• equipment. Most institutions rely on national

agencies for their monitoring.

• In Ghana, there is the Environmental Protection

Agency (E.P.A.) which serves the purpose.

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CONTROLLING ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Topic Four

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Controlling Pollution

• It is difficult to control pollution, particularly if an

information centre is in an urban area, as most national

• r state institutions are.
• Air entering information centres must be filtered, using

air-treatment equipment.

• Special air-conditioners could be used.
• Chemicals can also be used to absorb pollutants.
• Double-door chambers should be used to filter the air

before air enters storage environment.

• Avoid polluted areas while locating Information Centres.

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Controlling Pollution

Alternative strategies for controlling the effects of pollution include:

• Storing records in boxes, containers or file cabinet to keep

them from dust and dirt.

• Placing photocopiers in well-ventilated areas away from

record storage.

• Prohibiting smoking, eating or cooking near records or

archives.

• Dusting and cleaning regularly and thoroughly to keep dust

particles at a minimum.

• Storing records and archives away from engines, machinery,

exhaust fans or other pollution-generating equipment.

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Assignment 5.1

A library or archives is located in a rural area where there is no means of air-conditioning

• facilities. In not more than ten lines, advise

the librarian or archivist in charge as to how to protect his documents against pollution.

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Summary

You have come to the end of Session 5. You have learned:

• What atmospheric pollution is.
• The types of pollution that affects

documentary materials in information centers.

• Damages caused by pollution
• How to monitor pollution, and
• How to control pollution

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References

Akussah, H. (2011). Preservation of Documents. Department

• f Information Studies, Legon, NAB Superior Services.

Gorman, G. E., & Shep, S. J. (2006). Preservation management for libraries, archives and museums. London: Facet Pub.

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