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Hi, I agree with everybody that this is a very good question and I would like to extend the question to microbial infestations. Fungal spores are, as we all know, ubiquitous, meaning present everywhere. Clearly, we can consider active fungal growth an infestation as opposed to dormant spores sitting on an objects surface. However, I have read expressions such as: No fingicidal treatment was applied, however, fungal infestation was reduced to an acceptable level with mechanical cleaning (vacuuming, cotton swabs with 70% ethanol), followed by storage in stable climate.... I was wondering if anybody knows of quantitative data as to what an accptable level might be (meaning how many colony forming units per surface area of a given material). even more difficult would be bacterial infestations, so any qualitative or quantitative data indicating a kind of threshold concentration of microorganismens when antimicrobial action must start would be appreaciated. I only know of some numbers of microbial activity, measured by ATP concentration for food industry. However, the "acceptable level" might be higher for cultural heritage than for food items. Sincerely, Stefanie Scheerer _____________________________________________________________________ Dr. Stefanie Scheerer Vertretung Professur HTW Berlin, Fachbereich 5 Studiengang Konservierung und Restaurierung/Grabungstechnik Moderne Materialien und Technisches Kulturgut Modern Materials and Industrial Heritage Wilhelminenhofstraße 75a D – 12459 Berlin Telefon1: +49 (0)711 / 9127 5899 Telefon2: +49 (0)30 / 5019 4258 Telefax +49 (0)30 / 5019 4709 mobil: +49 (0)151 22 82 62 14 http://krg.htw-berlin.de ----- Original Message ---- From: "Anderson, Gretchen" <anders...@carnegiemnh.org> To: pestlist@museumpests.net Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 3:21:18 PM Subject: RE: [pestlist] Definition of 'infestation' This is a message from the Pest Management Database List. To post to this list send it as an email to pestlist@museumpests.net To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- You are talking about risk here. An annual migration where the insects (or other critters) get into the museum or historic structure, not only provide a food source for pest species, but also indicate the presence of access points that pest species can use also. This is potentially a high risk scenario. Perhaps the question is active or inactive pest activity. I always try to make that distinction (if possible) when monitoring either a space or an object. An active infestation indicates ongoing activity (either pest or non-pest species) - and higher risk. Ongoing monitoring gives you the data you need to determine action. Evidence of past infestations that you suspect are no longer active is important to note - it shows vulnerable specimens or areas. Inactive infestations where damage has occurred to the object. Monitoring is the key here. You need to know what species are present and active. You also need to determine if those present are a direct or indirect threat to the collection. And, you need to determine at what level you can tolerate them (numbers of insects). This is some of the information that you use to determine your mitigation strategies. Good question! Hope my thoughts help. Gretchen -----Original Message----- From: pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net [mailto:pestlist-ow...@museumpests.net] On Behalf Of he...@collectioncare.org Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:07 AM To: pestlist@museumpests.net Subject: Re: [pestlist] Definition of 'infestation' Great question. I wondered if an infestation is when objects show damage or are at risk. For example, I worked with a museum that had an annual migration through it, but it wasn't something that fed on the collection. Was this an infestation? It was a lot of bodies, but the only danger was that they would attract feeders that might also munch on the collection. Best, Helen Alten > > > Dear colleagues, > > I am currently examining 'risk' in terms of collections > management. In drawing up a list of risks, I am > considering the term 'insect infestation' (in terms of a > storage space not an object). The question is, how > helpful a term is 'infestation'- is there a critical mass > of bodies on traps in a store that merits it? Is there a > more objectively determined way of expressing the level > of risk to collections? > > I would welcome any thoughts. > > Sharon Connell > > ________________________________________ > Sharon Connell > Conservation Officer > Brotherton Library > University of Leeds > Leeds > LS2 9JT > T: 44 (0)113 343 6375 > E: s.a.conn...@leeds.ac.uk > > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > To send an email to the list, send your msg to > pestl...@museumpests.com > > To unsubscribe from this list send an email to > imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: > "unsubscribe pestlist" > Any problems email l...@zaks.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Helen Alten Director Northern States Conservation Center www.collectioncare.org www.museumclasses.org ------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com ------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com ------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to pestl...@museumpests.com To unsubscribe from this list send an email to imail...@museumpests.net and in the body put: "unsubscribe pestlist" Any problems email l...@zaks.com
