The problem is with the paper that is currently used, since its content of chemical compounds, such as the acids used for bleaching, are the ones that end up consuming it. For librarians this is a potential disaster, as it means that books published since 1850 could gradually self-destruct.Mike Weston of the British Library says: "It is ironic that the paper of books published since the beginning of printing in 1475 are in much better condition than some published just 40 years ago.
Librarians are determined to find some economic treatment that will allow them to preserve the books. So far, the only way is to unbind them and treat each page to remove the acid. While this is justifiable in the case of valuable editions, it is not practical for common books. Some manufacturers are producing paper with neutral, innocuous substances.
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