"We don't mean to alarm you and as long as you don't lick or eat your book covers you won't die. But be forewarned, if you aren't careful, don't wash your hands or protect cuts and open sores, or you breathe in too much of the dust, you could get fairly sick." Uh-oh...
About 30 odd years ago we had some Victorian taxidermy birds delivered to the Graphic Design where I was working from the local museum for a photo session for a calendar. We were all admiring them for a few hours in the studio and then we got an urgent phone call from the museum to not touch them as they were covered with arsenic dust for pest control.
I just remember them turning up for the photography session sitting on a desk. I was working in the adjoining Design studio. We were told not to touch them, but I don’t even remember if I did or not.
Fascinating! I also found it odd that one of the books from the Philly library with this wast still "in circulation"! The checkout card for that book must be full by now!
unless I decide to taste-test something sprayed with the infamous Novichok used by KGB I feel safe AJ for thinking of me!
