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Around 60,000 books and journals from the publication period 1800-1900, which were temporarily blocked for lending due to possible contamination with arsenic compounds, can be used again without restrictions after careful examination and assessment of any health risks. The lending restriction will now be removed from Katalog.plus. Approximately 10,000 volumes from the Linguistics and Literature subject collection, which were separated as a precautionary measure, can be gradually returned to the open access collection.
Background:
In February 2024, Bielefeld University was confronted with a serious issue: In the production of books and journals from the 19th century, arsenic compounds were sometimes used – especially in green coloring, for example on covers or in colored edges. Scientific findings suggested that these media could potentially pose a health risk. As it could not be ruled out that the Bielefeld University Library (UB) also had contaminated media in its collection, the university's rectorate precautionarily restricted around 60,000 books/journals from the period 1800-1900 from being borrowed – regardless of their coloring – and ordered an investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, it was determined that all restricted books and journals could be released and would gradually become available again.
During the investigation, over 10,000 segregated books were inspected by health and safety staff for relevant features such as colored edges or old, colored textile covers. The experts identified around 100 specimens. From this group, the 40 most suspicious books were sampled. Although arsenic compounds were detected in some of these samples, the poison was present in such small amounts that health risks from normal use could be excluded. To provide context: the levels found were below the limits for foodstuffs. Due to the clarity of the investigation results, the experts recommended that the restricted books be made available for use again. The rectorate followed this recommendation.