Fungicides for carpet

Thanks to Susan C. George of Dartmouth and Erich Kesse at University of
Florida for timely advice on shampooing carpets after flooding.  Erich
Kesse specifically raised a cautionary note about shampoos that contain
OPP.  I now have additional information about OPP that might be of
general interest to others on the Conservation DistList.  This acronym
is used for the chemical compound orthophenylphenol (it also goes by a
host of other tradenames such as Preventol O Extra, Torsite, etc.  The
"official" Chemical Abstracts name is (1,1'-biphenyl)-2-ol, and the
Chem. Abs. registry number is 90-43-7).  This substance is listed in Sax
"Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials" 7th ed. p. 449 as a class
3 (highest rating) hazard.  The report mentions moderate toxicity via
ingestion; plus possible evidence as a carcinogen and teratogen; also
severe eye and moderate skin irritant effects.  A further search in
Chemical Abstracts retrieved 33 references linking OPP and toxicity
studies of various kinds.  Clearly this is a material that must be used
with great caution, and preferably not at all within the enclosed space
of a heavily trafficked small library.

Howard M. Dess, Rutgers University, Library of Science & Medicine

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 4:44
                Distributed: Saturday, February 16, 1991
                        Message Id: cdl-4-44-003
                                  ***