Chapter 1: The Allure of Antiquity

For book enthusiasts, nothing beats the thrill of exploring a secondhand bookstore or wandering through the shadowy aisles of a university library, immersing oneself in the musty aroma of old pages. However, what many bibliophiles may not realize is that these cherished antique books could pose serious health risks. Let’s delve into the toxic narrative hidden within their pages.

Amidst the intricate designs and vibrant colors of Victorian-era publications (1837–1900), there lies a dangerous truth. While these eye-catching hues attract book lovers, they may also contain harmful substances like lead, chromium, and arsenic, lingering even after centuries.

Arsenic, a naturally occurring metal, was readily available during the mid-to-late 1800s, primarily as a byproduct of industrial processes, particularly copper smelting. It was deemed innocuous in small quantities and went largely unregulated, leading to its use in various products, including cosmetics, toys, textiles, and even food.

The term “green death” originated from the toxic combination of copper acetate and arsenic trioxide, which produced a bright green powder known as “emerald green,” also referred to as Paris or Schweinfurt green. During the Victorian era, this dye was a fashion staple, gracing everything from wallpaper to clothing.

Tragically, the consequences of this trend became evident as reports of poisoning surfaced, ranging from festive candles to poisoned gowns and factory workers suffering convulsions from green paint. Wallpaper emerged as a primary culprit, releasing toxic fumes as it deteriorated.

Many fell victim to arsenic’s deadly effects, including Napoleon Bonaparte, whose exhumed hair revealed dangerously high arsenic levels, attributed not to foul play but to his hair products.

Lucinda Hawksley’s 2016 book, Bitten by Witch Fever, documents the use of arsenic in wallpaper, inspiring Dr. Melissa Tedone, head of the book and library materials conservation lab at Winterthur Library, to investigate an old book she was repairing. Upon discovering its vibrant green cover was flaking, she had it tested and confirmed it contained arsenic.

“It’s one thing to use a pigment like that in a small area in an illustration or painting, but this was the entire book just covered with it,” Tedone noted in a statement to UDaily.

With leather bindings becoming increasingly expensive, publishers turned to cloth. To keep up with fashion trends, they dyed this cloth in popular colors, including emerald green. While the exact amount of arsenic used remains unclear, records show that individuals frequently handling these books suffered from skin lesions and burns.

Recognizing the potential risks in libraries, Tedone and her colleague Grayburn initiated the Poison Book Project, aiming to catalog toxic books for public awareness. Thus far, they’ve examined around 350 volumes from Winterthur’s collection, with 10% testing positive for arsenic, alongside other hazardous elements like mercury and lead.

Suspicious books undergo testing via X-ray fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, while samples are occasionally sent to specialized labs for further analysis.

This video explores the toxic legacy of family dynamics in literature, shedding light on how dysfunctional families are depicted in classic and modern books.

Chapter 2: Recognizing Toxicity in Vintage Texts

To see if your book is among the toxic collection, check the Poison Book Project’s database. It catalogs the use of heavy metal pigments in various components of books, including covers, endpapers, and text block edges. Beyond emerald green, readers should be cautious of:

• Red Dyes: Often contain cinnabar (mercury sulfide), which can lead to kidney damage and respiratory issues.
• Vermilion: This color has also been found to harbor mercury sulfide.
• Yellow Dyes: May include lead chromate, which is hazardous in large amounts but less concerning than red or green dyes.
• Marbled Covers: These distinctive patterns can contain cinnabar, lead, and mercury.

Exposure to arsenic has been associated with a variety of health problems, including respiratory issues and chronic lung disease, and may lead to severe conditions such as skin lesions and cancer. Although Tedone emphasizes that there are no known serious illnesses related to handling these books in recent times, caution is still advised.