Danish museums plagued by 'epidemic', collections are in serious danger

Art fans in Denmark may be starting to worry. A dangerous fungus called aspergillus section restricti has attacked the collections of the country's largest museums, and there's no way to stop it.

In museums where temperature, humidity and light are meticulously monitored and controlled, an unexpected adversary has appeared. A newly discovered species of mould – Aspergillus section restricti – is wreaking havoc in 12 of Denmark's most important museums, including the prestigious National Museum of Denmark and Skagens Museum.

Although at first glance it resembles white dust, the fungus is much more dangerous. This mold, capable of surviving in extreme conditions – from the depths of the oceans to the vicinity of volcanoes – paradoxically feels best in a dry climate. It is in such conditions that the most valuable artifacts are stored, which makes the situation particularly dramatic.

- When we do see it, it's too late - warns Jul Bastholm, an expert from the National Museum of Denmark. Her words sound like a harbinger of a global crisis: - I think it's a global problem. If we start looking for it with the right methods, we'll find it everywhere.

Bastholm has also noticed the fungus in archives, libraries and historic churches. The scale of the threat is growing, and in Denmark, research is underway in as many as 150 cultural sites.

The National Museum of Denmark has begun relocating the affected collections to a new warehouse near Copenhagen. This is a necessary step in the fight against an unknown enemy. However, the answer to the question of how to effectively stop the fungus from developing remains unknown.

The Danish Museum Association is set to announce its strategy by the end of the year. Until then, every museum, gallery and archive should be regularly monitoring its collections, because what looks like inconspicuous fluff can cost them dearly.