New from Hanwell Instruments is DustBug, a device to help museums, galleries and historic buildings deal with a problem that could cause untold damage to valuable artefacts.

Dust can lead to scratches, erosion, staining and the growth of microbes, but an additional challenge is that a high frequency of cleaning and dusting can cause further damage. The DustBug device has been designed to monitor the amount of dust in a particular area, and provide curators, exhibition managers and preservation officers with vital data to support decisions on dusting patterns.

Placed on a flat surface facing upwards, the DustBug’s glass-fronted sensor gathers and measures the dust that is naturally falling and displays its real-time reading on a small numeric screen. It can also be easily integrated into an existing Hanwell system so that dust is monitored in addition to other parameters such as temperature and humidity. This allows for the recording of all data for historical analysis over a given period.

The DustBug has been developed in conjunction with the University of East Anglia, the National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces. Environmental monitoring and control systems from Letchworth, Hertfordshire-based Hanwell Instruments, are already helping to preserve the historic collections of - among others - the Louvre, National Trust, V&A and Houses of Parliament.