Family records in our homes are hurt by window sunlight, water pipes flooding a basement, high humidity, a fire, dirt, car exhaust, and other results of nature's processes. Even if we could keep our records totally safe from nature's outside agents, they are still in danger of disintegrating. Many paper products contain acid from the manufacturing process, in which it is used to break down paper fibers. Cardboard boxes, paper grocery bags, binder paper, computer paper, manila folders, and cheap scrapbook paper have high acid contents. Recently, there have been numerous reports on the deterioration of books in the Library of Congress.
Officials regularly appeal for money to deacidify paper in the library's books.
They say 75 percent of the books need treatment but that 25 percent can't be saved. The books, instead, must be microfilmed and then taken out of use or destroyed. Inks also contain damaging acid. Photographs have chemicals coating their surface. These chemicals are in turn subject to interaction with other chemicals and moisture.