Commercial application of non chemical fumigation in museums

Abstract: Among stored product insects, non food pests are common in museums artifacts and wood products. Since the phase out of methyl bromide and since it harms rubber products non chemical fumigations were applied indoor to treat museums’ valuable products such as stuffed animals, woods oriented from Far East and other valuables. Treatments were applied in controlled conditions of 25 °C for 12 days to control Lyctus spp. and Anthrenus verbasci beetles. The museum artifacts consisted of various stuffed wild animals collected by the Human and Animal museum, Ramat Gan and were on display inside show-window. All items were placed inside a 13 m3 gastight and flexible fumigation chamber at three levels shelves. CO2 was applied from a pressurized cylinder using a high pressure resistant tube attached to the bottom of the fumigation chamber while at the top an opening of about 15 cm was left open. The purging of CO2 was carried out directly using a siphon cylinder. The dosage of 2 kg/m3 was applied while gas concentration was monitored during purging and until 100% concentration was reached. Measurements were carried out immediately after application and before opening. Fumigation was done using low permeability flexible liners equipped with zip-lock zipper. During the fumigation the chamber was heated to maintain 25 °C. Results obtained complete mortality of both species. CO2 fumigation being applied indoor with controlled temperature is a suitable, successful and comfortable way of application with no need of handling the valuable, sometimes heavy, art crafts to a special gastight chamber, normally located far from museums.