Morten
Check the Conch-L Archives - there have been recurrent lively discussions on
this many times over the past year.  I think you will find some interesting
tidbits, and probably you will see the names of the people (there are many
on Conch-L) who know quite a bit about this.

Nora
Calgary, Alberta

Morten Ryhl-Svendsen wrote:

> I'm a student of conservation science who currently is writing a thesis
> about the problems in museum collections due to indoor air pollution.
> One such problem can be carbonyls emitted from wooden drawers, show
> cases, cabinets, etc., which houses calcium carbonate structures such as
> bird egg shells or sea shells. (You've probably all heard of this). This
> can cause a heavy deterioration with efflorescent salts on the shell
> surface, often called "Bynes Disease" (or more correctly "Bynes
> Efflorescence").
>
> I know of a few incidents of this from the conservation literature, but
> I would like to get a picture of just how widespread this kind of
> deterioration really is. Any reports or stories will be highly
> appreciated.
>
> - Morten
>
> Konservatorskolen (The School of Conservation)
> Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi
> Esplanaden 34, DK-1263 Copenhagen K, Denmark
> Fax: (+45) 33 74 47 77
>
> The Website of Indoor Air Quality in Museums and Archives:
> http://hjem.get2net.dk/ryhl/