PQA Case study
Toxic Books: Quick, Low-Cost Detection
Project Team
Dr Graham Bruce (PI)
Erica Kotse (Co-I)
University of St Andrews,
School of Physics and Astronomy
Toxic levels of arsenic were used in the bindings of green-coloured 19th Century books. The Photonics & Quantum Accelerator (PQA) provided funding to Dr Graham Bruce at the University of St Andrews to create a low-cost prototype and use it to scan books in key collections in Scotland, enabling safe storage and handling.
The challenge
In recent years, collecting institutes have become increasingly concerned about arsenical pigments in green-coloured 19th Century book bindings. Many 19th-Century books were bound or decorated with vivid green pigments made from arsenic, which can shed toxic dust as they age. Today, these toxic books pose hidden health risks for librarians and collectors: identifying them requires specialised and expensive testing. Without an accessible, accurate and rapid method to detect the pigment, libraries and collections around the world have prevented access to parts of their book collections – for example, the University of Bielefeld has isolated around 60,000 books as a precautionary measure.
The response
The PQA funded a team led by Dr Graham Bruce comprising physics researchers and library archivists.
- Prototype device produced
A fully portable, handheld, low-cost (~£250) and intuitive device was produced, following multiple rounds of feedback with staff from different collecting institutes. The device measures key components of the books’ reflectance spectra and was validated on >700 books at the University of St Andrews.
- Books scanned in collections in Central Scotland
The prototype instrument has been deployed in collecting institutions across Scotland (National Library of Scotland; National Records of Scotland; Universities of St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow; Dundee Local History Centre; The Angus Archive; The Library of Innerpeffray; The Abbotsford Trust). Over the course of these visits, the team were asked to inspect almost 11,000 books of concern. The prototype instrument has identified 157 arsenical books across these collections.
- Raising awareness through exhibition and media activity
Between 4 February and 23 March, and between 6 June and 21 September 2025, an open exhibition was held at the Wardlaw Museum in St Andrews, titled “Poisonous Books: Dangers From The Past.” More than 500 individuals visited the exhibition, 149 of whom completed feedback forms on what they had seen. The exhibition had a successful impact in increasing awareness of the issue.
Outcomes and impact
New investment and sales
Further investment by the University’s Impact and Innovation Fund (£15k) and a private donor ($10k) will allow rollout plans. An appropriate business model is being developed to roll out sales of the instruments. A local company will produce a final design and build batches of instruments for sale. First sales are planned for Spring 2026. Team has received >120 direct expressions of interest for purchasing instruments from libraries, museums, conservators, collectors, and Universities around the world.
Culture change
Awareness of the hazards posed by emerald green pigment was mixed, with only 60% of institutions engaged having prior knowledge and most institutions having taken no protective action. All collections where books were identified have changed the way they store and catalogue their books. For example, Dundee Local History Centre and the Library at Innerpeffray removed their arsenical books from circulation, but put them on display in a sealed cabinet, to raise awareness of the issue.
Media presence
In June 2025, the project received significant media coverage, appearing on BBC TV and radio, and in print and digital news including BBC News, the Times, the Guardian and the Daily Record. These reach millions of viewers, domestically and internationally. Attention led to announcements by special interest groups including the Institute of Conservation, the Global Conservation Forum, and Brian May Archive of Stereoscopy, who have 15,000 combined subscribers. A Poisonous Books Project website was developed and has thus far attracted 800 individual visitors. The work was also recently highlighted by EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Charlotte Deane during an EPSRC Community Webinar on 10 December 2025 as an example of “excellent science… [and] relatable impact stories [that] help build public trust and support for science and innovation”.