Increasing awareness among museums, institutions, and tribal communities about the potential risks of pesticide contamination residues on cultural heritage collections is critical, especially with increasing Indigenous involvement in collection care and the formal repatriation of cultural heritage to Native communities. This course will cover the components of how to evaluate potential pesticide contamination and human risk. Each webinar will provide resources and examples on a specific topic, as well as opportunities for discussion and examples. By the end of the course participants will:
- Know how to prepare an institutional pesticide use history.
- Gain information about pesticide chemicals and potential for human risk.
- Participate in a review of commonly used testing and analytical techniques, with information about their limitations, sampling, and other related topics.
- Understand how to organize data and results from analysis and historical research
- Be able to convey information in a way that frames acceptable risk and tribal perspectives.
Course Instructors
- Lisa Goldberg, Conservator, Goldberg Preservation Services, LLC
- Marilen Pool, Objects Conservator, Principal, Sonoran Art Conservation Services
Course Schedule
Session 1 – Pesticide History – Tuesday January 21, 2025 1:00-2:30 pm ET
This webinar will provide approaches and tools for preparing an institution’s pesticide use history to facilitate the process of analyzing potential contaminants and pesticides previously used on cultural heritage collections.
Session 2 – Pesticide Chemicals – Tuesday January 28, 2025 1:00-2:30 pm ET
This webinar will provide participants with a framework for understanding the chemical classes of pesticides and their persistence. Presenters will also describe how health and safety professionals assess the risks associated with human exposure to these chemicals.
Session 3 – Testing and Analysis – Tuesday February 4, 2025 1:00-2:30 pm ET
This webinar will cover the techniques and tools used to evaluate the presence of pesticides on collection items. The limitations of common techniques like pXRF and the options available for identifying organic and inorganic pesticides will be covered. Also included will be an overview of how to select and work with your testing laboratory. Finally, a case study will also be presented on the use of these techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of remediation techniques.
Session 4 – Organizing Information – Tuesday February 11, 2025 1:00-2:30 pm ET
This webinar will describe how to interpret and present results from historical research, testing, and analysis with museum, repatriation, and tribal communities.
Session 5 – Risk Communication & Tribal Perspectives – Tuesday February 18, 2025 1:00-2:30 pm ET
This webinar will provide participants with information about hazard communication and solutions that may decrease human risk. Current concern among tribal communities centers on how to welcome these items home when the potential for pesticide contamination is present. Discussing tribal perspectives and evaluating acceptable risks are part of an ongoing conversation; collaboration and transparency about collection history and previous use, fair and clear interpretation of testing data, and evaluation of future intended use parameters all contribute to improved awareness of human risk.
Captioning in English and Spanish is available. The program will be held using Zoom Meeting.
Registration Fee
- $99 Early Bird through January 1, 2025
- $149 Regular Fee
Connecting to Collections Care courses are made possible in part by generous support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
