Connecting to Collections Care

My museum has a very large artifact on display (a 12-foot tall TV camera crane) in the lobby that tested positive for lead in the paint. The artifact is too large to put behind acrylic, and we do not have offsite storage space to transfer it to. The paint is flaking, and I am not sure how to keep guests or front-desk staff safe from the lead hazards posed by this artifact. We've placed "Do not touch" signs by it, but that does not deter everyone, and I think a bigger issue is that the paint flakes can be inhaled.  I've researched a bit about lead paint sealants, like LeadX, but they seem to be more for historic buildings than artifacts. Are lead sealants an approved option for an artifact like this, or would it be detrimental to the artifact in the long term?

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Kallie Zieman
Collections Manager
Pavek Museum
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Hi Kallie!

Lead paint's hazard is pretty exclusive to ingestion. It would only become an inhalation hazard if the paint were to be sanded or disturbed in such a way that fine particulate would be generated. General paint flakes are too large to inhaled, but can easily be ingested. I think the signs are a good start, but if your facility is one that sees a lot of foot traffic from children then additional precautions should be put in place. Signage related to lead and increased housekeeping of the area may be needed as well.

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Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365
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Hi Kallie, 

Thank you for your question! I'm reaching out to our community experts and will check back in once I've heard. Hopefully other members will also chime in if they have experience dealing with lead paint.

All the best,

Liz

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Elizabeth Peirce
Conservator (Objects) /Connecting to Collections Care Monitor 10/2-10/15
Library of Congress
Washington DC
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Hi again Kallie, 

I've heard back from one of our experts and have included his recommendation below: 

I recommend that they immediately contact the Minnesota Department of Health for advice as the State of Minnesota should have guidelines on how to handle such a situation. It may well be necessary to remove the crane from the space as soon as possible or wrap it tightly in place with a cling-type plastic wrap to contain the lead paint flakes until the flaking can be properly addressed.

The health department should also be able to provide a list of painting firms who can safely deal with removing loose lead paint and encapsulating the remaining paint under a new appropriate paint product. This work should not be done in the display area of the museum.

You could also reach out to Monona Rossol, an industrial hygienist who has provided excellent advice on hazardous materials to conservators for decades.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/rossol-monona-1936__;!!EDx7F7x-0XSOB8YS_BQ!Zx3xupR_8e_B_g1Llec0c6c98KITyY0-EJ7BJOIDzp2X2fZI2L5uAu1bbcMSdlHVSq1iJWomMol-s8hbsA$

She is a member of the dis-list and often responds to such inquiries about hazardous art materials.

I hope that's helpful!

Best,

Liz

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Elizabeth Peirce
Conservator (Objects) /Connecting to Collections Care Monitor 10/2-10/15
Library of Congress
Washington DC
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I posted your question in the AIHA Museum & Cultural Heritage Industry Working Group Forum, along with the advice I previously posted - and this is a response I received:

I agree with your advice. I think good barriers, good housekeeping (vacuuming regularly with a HEPA vac that is used solely for lead paint), and signage are the best ways to go. With those safeguards, it seems likely that the only time there would be an inhalation hazard would be in a fire, in which case, a sealant would not help, anyway. If the local first responders know about the hazard they would arrive with appropriate PPE. ------------------------------ Catharine Hawks Conservator NMNH Smithsonian Institution Washington DC hawksc@si.edu ------------------------------

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Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365
------------------------------

I would review the literature about the toxicity and hazards of lead paint. My doctor told me many years ago that I had elevated lead levels because my arms and legs were not fully covered while using paint stripper to remove lead paint from my old house. I wore a mask, and the strippers were largely not solvent-based. My levels are fine now, but it took years for it to come down.

Shelley 

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Shelley Reisman Paine
Conservator of Objects and Sculpture
Nashville TN
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2023 10:35
From: Jessica Ricchio
Subject: Lead Paint Sealant

I posted your question in the AIHA Museum & Cultural Heritage Industry Working Group Forum, along with the advice I previously posted - and this is a response I received:

I agree with your advice. I think good barriers, good housekeeping (vacuuming regularly with a HEPA vac that is used solely for lead paint), and signage are the best ways to go. With those safeguards, it seems likely that the only time there would be an inhalation hazard would be in a fire, in which case, a sealant would not help, anyway. If the local first responders know about the hazard they would arrive with appropriate PPE. ------------------------------ Catharine Hawks Conservator NMNH Smithsonian Institution Washington DC hawksc@si.edu ------------------------------

------------------------------
Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10/18/2023 9:28:00 AM
From: Shelley Paine
Subject: RE: Lead Paint Sealant

I would review the literature about the toxicity and hazards of lead paint. My doctor told me many years ago that I had elevated lead levels because my arms and legs were not fully covered while using paint stripper to remove lead paint from my old house. I wore a mask, and the strippers were largely not solvent-based. My levels are fine now, but it took years for it to come down.

Shelley 

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Shelley Reisman Paine
Conservator of Objects and Sculpture
Nashville TN
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Thank you everyone for your advice! I'm planning on adding more stanchion barriers and vacuuming the artifact more often to mitigate the flakes. Realistically, though, the artifact is too tall and large to vacuum every day. I'm still leaning towards applying a sealant product to it. A fellow staff member developed chronic lead poisoning at a previous museum she worked at, so we want to take every precaution we can to put everyone's mind at ease with this artifact. I contacted the MN Health Department to inquire about lead regulations and whether we needed a contractor if we decide to apply a sealant to the artifact. In MN, there are no regulations prohibiting staff without lead-worker training from applying lead encapsulation products. I was advised to use proper PPE and directed to the EPA's page on lead-safe renovation tips for creating a safe environment for the project: https://www.epa.gov/lead/lead-safe-renovations-diyers. As we aren't removing the paint from the artifact, the health department representative I spoke to was far less concerned about it.

Thank you all again for your help!

Best,

Kallie

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Kallie Zieman
Collections Manager
St. Louis Park MN
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-24-2023 20:55
From: Ariana Makau
Subject: Lead Paint Sealant

As a conservator who specializes in objects whose main components are glass and lead, I've spent decades researching the problem of access to art with lead based materials while protecting employees and the public. I'm also a certified lead and asbestos worker in addition to having an MA in stained glass conservation and an AIC Fellow.

Nzilani's website has a  page dedicated to safety - particularly lead.

I would echo what others have said on this thread:

• Large flakes aren't particularly dangerous if they remain inert and untouched. But, as soon as they become smaller flakes (or ground to large dust) -  tracked by shoes into an area where there are kids crawling, backpacks, water bottles or lunch boxes set down, people who are unaware of the material may transfer it onto their hands and ingest those smaller flakes accidentally.
• Containing the material is key as is safely disposing of it. Local regulators can tell you the specific requirements in your region on how to do this. I would seek out a local site hygienist who has worked with art conservators - talking with someone who is unfamiliar with conversation may be challenging to come to an understanding of your needs.
• As with all treatments, check in a small, inconspicuous area if the lead paint sealant will alter the aesthetics of your art piece. And of course, follow the safety recommendations for using the sealant.
• Depending on local regulations, you and your team may need to take a lead worker class before embarking on treatment - recommended especially if it is a highly visible, public area. Make sure you are outfitted with the proper PPE's, including respirators that have been fit tested, and your work is contained and separate from the public. 

Feel free to reach out directly if you have further questions.

Your partner in preservation (people, place & planet),

-Ariana Makau

My work hours may not be your work hours. 

Please do not feel obligated to respond outside your work schedule.

A r i a n a  M a k a u			NZILANI GLASS CONSERVATION
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Original Message:
Sent: 10/18/2023 9:28:00 AM
From: Shelley Paine
Subject: RE: Lead Paint Sealant

I would review the literature about the toxicity and hazards of lead paint. My doctor told me many years ago that I had elevated lead levels because my arms and legs were not fully covered while using paint stripper to remove lead paint from my old house. I wore a mask, and the strippers were largely not solvent-based. My levels are fine now, but it took years for it to come down.

Shelley 

------------------------------
Shelley Reisman Paine
Conservator of Objects and Sculpture
Nashville TN
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2023 10:35
From: Jessica Ricchio
Subject: Lead Paint Sealant

I posted your question in the AIHA Museum & Cultural Heritage Industry Working Group Forum, along with the advice I previously posted - and this is a response I received:

I agree with your advice. I think good barriers, good housekeeping (vacuuming regularly with a HEPA vac that is used solely for lead paint), and signage are the best ways to go. With those safeguards, it seems likely that the only time there would be an inhalation hazard would be in a fire, in which case, a sealant would not help, anyway. If the local first responders know about the hazard they would arrive with appropriate PPE. ------------------------------ Catharine Hawks Conservator NMNH Smithsonian Institution Washington DC hawksc@si.edu ------------------------------

------------------------------
Jessica Ricchio
North & Northwest Program Leader Workforce Health and Safety
McHenry IL
(815) 701-6365