A groundbreaking new tool has emerged from the University of St Andrews, designed to swiftly pinpoint books that pose a potential poisoning risk to readers.

In a rather alarming chapter of publishing history, arsenic blended with copper was used to create the eye-catching emerald green covers popular in the past. While experts deem the hazard to be 'low,' consistent contact with such arsenic-laden books can trigger a host of health complications—from mild irritation to serious respiratory issues.

As a precautionary measure, numerous libraries have recently taken the drastic step of locking away these notorious green books. The University of Bielefeld, for instance, was forced to isolate a staggering 60,000 titles last year alone due to the costly and labor-intensive nature of testing for toxins.

The innovative device, spearheaded by researcher Pilar Gil, leverages technology originally used for detecting minerals in rocks. Gil recalls the pivotal moment of discovery when researchers found a unique reflectance pattern linked to the toxic emerald pigment. By applying this finding, they developed a portable screening device tailored for books.

According to Graham Bruce and Morgan Facchin, the brilliant minds behind this handheld innovation, the device utilizes a spectrum of light to reveal the 'fingerprint' of the dangerous emerald green pigment. "We can identify the fingerprints of the pigment with the precision we’ve honed through extensive testing on our university’s collections,” Bruce explained.

In mere seconds, the tool can verify whether a book contains the toxic pigment, and so far, over 100 titles have been flagged as hazardous. At St Andrews, emerald green books are now carefully stored in Ziploc polythene bags, highlighting the university's commitment to safety. When patrons wish to access these books, staff first look for safer alternatives. If necessary, special precautions like nitrile gloves are employed during handling.

This concerns more than just safety; as conservator Erica Kotze emphasized, restricting access to these books limits the wealth of knowledge they contain. By categorizing tested books as safe, libraries can ensure that more materials remain available to the public without risk.

In a time when safety meets scholarship, the University of St Andrews has not only illuminated a critical issue from the past but has also equipped libraries with the means to navigate this challenge.