Applying science to preserve science
Pest control for the Science Museum
The Science Museum has a valuable collection of specimens. As well as exhibiting the objects it has to preserve them. Staff have to stop pests attacking biological specimens.
Helen Kingsley is responsible for conservation laboratory at the Science Museum's small objects store in West London. Included in her care are specimens such as Tracy the transgenic ewe that you see in the picture.
She and her team have to monitor the environment in which the objects are stored and use an integrated approach to controlling pests. This includes: monitoring with insect traps, good housekeeping as well as the use of phyical and chemical methods to deal with pests that appear.
There are various options for treating infested objects. Much depends on the material and size of the object. Freezing is one method they can use and low oxygen environments using nitrogen is another. This latter treatment causes the insects to die by anoxia - the exclusion of air. Oxygen levels are taken below 0.3% for a period of 21 days.
Submitted by: Helen Kingsley, 28 July 2002
