This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new study, led by researchers at the University of Staffordshire, has found evidence of potentially hazardous microbial growth on mummified human and animal remains advertised for sale online—posing risks to both sellers and buyers. The paper is published in the International Journal of Cultural Property.
The analysis of 128 online posts and auction listings also highlighted noncompliance with postal regulations, potentially putting delivery workers, customs officials and other members of the public at risk. Isolated human body parts, including hands and feet, were the most frequently listed items, while more than half of the sample involved heads in varying states of completeness and preservation. Sellers were found to provide little information about the safe handling of remains, while some posts showed people handling mummified human remains without gloves.
Although not all items in the study had visible signs of possible fungal growth or extensive deterioration, the researchers warn that microbial colonization may not always be visible, meaning apparently well-preserved remains can still present potential risks. Kirsty Squires, professor of human bioarchaeology at the University of Staffordshire, conducted the research with international colleagues from Vilnius University, the University of Salento, the University of Messina and Adelaide University. "The rise of the internet, especially social media, has amplified international trafficking and driven demand for unique cultural heritage, including mummified humans and animals," she explained.
"However, these preserved remains pose health and biosecurity risks due to the toxicity of embalming methods and/or suboptimal storage that can promote microbial growth. Our research revealed that mummified remains sold online exhibit signs of biodeterioration, yet sellers provide no safety guidance, suggesting limited awareness or deliberate disregard of hazards." "There is also evidence to show that mummified remains are being mailed to buyers, both nationally and internationally, with little (if any) consideration of the health and safety implications of these actions. Clearer, more prominent guidelines are needed to ensure buyers and sellers are unable to misinterpret or find loopholes in shipping policies." The potential dangers of mummified remains are not unknown.
Exposure to and inhalation of Aspergillus spores have been attributed to the deaths of 10 of 12 conservation scientists who opened the tomb of King Casimir IV Jagiellon in Kraków in the 1970s. It is also believed that a severe form of aspergillosis may have contributed to Lord Carnarvon's death, possibly resulting from inhaling Aspergillus spores in Tutankhamun's tomb. In these cases, fungal spores lay dormant for hundreds of years, and once disturbed, they became airborne and dangerous to human health.
Inadequate packaging and storage conditions of mummified remains can accelerate their biodeterioration and fungal growth, while disturbing remains can potentially release fungal spores into the air. Mummified remains can also contain substances historically used in preservation and embalming, including arsenic, mercury and lead. The researchers argue that stronger oversight and clearer guidance are needed across online marketplaces, postal and courier industries, customs services and relevant authorities.
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