Advanced Techniques for the detection of chemical hazards in archive repositories through Heritage Science.

A handheld sniffer device, originally built to detect illicit drugs, is being adapted to find toxic pesticide residues in the nation’s archive repositories. The problem is that many historical documents, photographs, and textiles stored in archives were treated with hazardous chemicals—such as arsenic, mercury, and DDT—decades ago. These residues can off-gas or transfer to skin, posing health risks to archivists, researchers, and visitors. Current detection methods are slow, expensive, or require bulky lab equipment, meaning many repositories simply do not know what hazards they hold. This project, a collaboration between Cranfield University and The National Archives, will modify the CRIM-TRACK sensor to detect pesticide vapours at parts-per-trillion sensitivity—far below the levels that would harm a person. The team will also compare results with other analytical techniques and map how historic preservation practices varied worldwide. If successful, the result will be a cheap, portable, easy-to-use device that any archive can deploy. That could transform workplace safety in cultural heritage institutions, allowing them to identify and manage chemical risks without specialist training or costly lab work. The same sensor technology might later be adapted for museums, libraries, or even historic houses open to the public.