Old pesticides

Within the heritage sector, we have been and continue to be confronted with insects. Today, within the War Heritage Institute, we use Integrated Pest Management to monitor and control the amount of insects that might damage our collection.

In the past however moth balls containing naphthalene (C₁₀H₈) have been used within some of our display cases. For this reason, the smell of naphthalene is still present in some of our display cases and on some of the objects.

1. Naphtalene | Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and occurs naturally in coal tar.

Several types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can cause DNA damage making them highly carcinogenic. PAHs are mainly found in crude oil, coal, and tar and are formed when fossil fuels or biomass are burned. Naphthalene is the most common component of coal tar. It is also created in modern processes for high-temperature cracking of petroleum.

It was often used in the past as a moth repellent. For this reason, naphthalene was used in mothballs and today mothballs are still produced with naphthalene. This is not without risks. Accidental exposure and misuse of naphthalene mothballs have already been linked to incidents of serious morbidity in children and adults. Naphthalene is very volatile and has a distinct odor.

Exposure to naphthalene through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact poses health risks. It can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and can even lead to convulsions, coma, and death. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has also identified naphthalene as a possible human carcinogen.

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Heavy metals | Old pesticides  | Medical equipment  | Chemical warfare equipment  | Asbestos