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Hazardous chemicals are indispensable substances for the development of modern industries. However, improper storage, transportation, or handling of hazardous chemicals can cause chain disasters su...

Biodeterioration of poultry feed by fungal load due to improper storage is a major concern. The present investigation was carried out to determine the effect of relative humidity (RH) on biodeterioration of poultry feed, biochemical changes and ochratoxin A (OTA) production by Penicillium species examined during September 2009 to July 2010. All the relative humidities studied were supported 16 species of Penicillium with varying percentage of prevalence. Penicillium species produced different mycotoxins with ochratoxin A (OTA) predominating. The OTA production in feed, increased with increasing RH with increasing storage period. The feed stored under RH at 90 and 100% reached maximum OTA production 16.19 and 20.45 μg/g respectively on fourth month of storage period, while RH at 50 and 70% the amount of OTA increased gradually and reached maximum 11.37 and 14.48 μg/g respectively on sixth month of storage. The highest phenol and reducing sugar content was observed under all RH on fourth month of storage and maximum with RH at 70 and 90%, while protein, free amino acid content of feed initially decreased and increased on end of the storage period. In conclusion, relative humidity also plays a major role on biodeterioration of poultry feed and OTA production by Penicillium species.

In 1977, the Art Institute of Chicago acquired Seven Panels and Index, a pivotal work by the German Conceptual artist Hanne Darboven. Representative of Darboven’s calendrical ‘non-writing’, the piece consists of 266 sheets of soft graphite on paper, 823 pieces of pressure-sensitive tape, particle board, and aluminum framing elements. It is monumental in scale (3.81 × 7.67 meters) and complex in its construction. Improper storage of the work had resulted in near catastrophic damage. In the course of its three-month-Iong treatment, Seven Panels and Index was completely disassembled, all pressure-sensitive tape was removed and adhesive residues were reduced. After stabilization, humidification and flattening, the work was reassembled using ‘archival’ tape, reformatted and reframed. This presentation explores technical and ethical conservation challenges, elucidates recent advances in the analysis of pressure-sensitive tape adhesives, and offers a thought provoking approach to the conservation of twen...

The fact that an object is added to a museum collection implies that it is worth preserving. Once in that collection, improper storage and/or display conditions are likely to be the greatest threat to its continued existence. The establishment of appropriate conditions for preservation is therefore not only ethically important, it is fundamental to good collection management. Time and effort devoted to improving environmental conditions and working practices benefits the mass of a collection, whereas only relatively small numbers of individual objects can ever be treated by conservators.

Exposures to toxic rocket propellants usually are the result of spills, leaks, and improper storage or handling of these fuels. Potentially exposed persons should be examined at intervals commensurate with their exposures but at least annually. Considerable information which is useful in evaluating the adequacy of control measures can be obtained by compiling and analyzing clinical laboratory results, physical findings, and subjective complaints. A detailed treatment procedure for acute exposures to these fuels or oxidizers is described.

The dangers inherent in the improper storage of photographic film, especially microfilm, and the necessity of following good storage practices are reviewed.Enhanced image stability is obtained by treatment of processed microfilm with a dilute solution of Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner. This treatment has been extremely effective in preventing discolouration and microspot formation under accelerated ageing conditions. The selenium treatment coupled with recommended storage practices (storage below 70°F, 15-40% RH) using recommended filing enclosures and containers would indicate that microfilm will last for manY hundreds of years.