A scientific research team that monitored the levels of formaldehyde at an exhibition of works by Damien Hirst held at Tate Modern in 2012 says that readings of the chemical in the gallery were in excess of European regulations.
The scientists recorded readings of formaldehyde at five parts per million (EU regulations set the limit at 0.5 parts per million); their findings are published online by the London-based Royal Society of Chemistry.
Science Ltd, Hirst's company, told The Times: "We don't believe any risk was posed to the public," adding that it is "baffled" by the report because it does regular testing. The company says that its experts "tell us that at five parts per million your eyes would be streaming and you would be in serious physical discomfort."
The formaldehyde was used to preserve works included in the show such as Mother and Child Divided, made up of four tanks containing a bisected cow and calf, and Away from the Flock, comprising a lamb suspended in a tank.
Pier Giorgio Righetti, a professor of chemistry at Milan Polytechnic, says that his researchers, including the Israeli academic Gleb Zilberstein, visited the gallery and detected formaldehyde particles using electronic wristbands and modified iPhones.
Righetti says that he doubts there was a risk to visitors for two reasons. “The exposure time was too short…. And most visitors probably saw the installations at a distance since the objects were very large. Also, the fumes of formaldehyde probably decay exponentially in the surrounding space, so they would be harmful if you put your nose up against the glass which some people probably did.”
He raised concerns though about the effect of the formaldehyde on staff and warders who monitored the works. “What happened to the staff who were exposed to the fumes for five months [the exhibition run] is something the Tate should be concerned about,” Righetti says.
But a Tate spokesman says that Righetti told them: “We cannot make any comment on whether or not there was any potential risk to staff, as this is outside the scope of our findings.”
The Tate also stresses that the safety of its staff and visitors is a priority, adding: “We take all necessary precautions when installing and displaying our exhibitions. These works contained a very dilute formaldehyde solution that was contained within sealed tanks.”