Paper towels and seashells

[777]

I have been collecting sea shells ever since I was 7 or 8 years old, I found and bought them from various places over the years. I am starting a separate sea shell collection now that has labels with data just like what I do with my Insects and crustaceans. I have a specimen (Americoliva sayana) from 2012 that I put in a very small clear container with a bit of paper towel inside for cushioning the shell the other day. I sometimes hear about acidic paper breaking down over time, and it makes me wonder if paper towels are acidic. If they are, could the paper towel pieces in my small specimen box possibly damage my shell over time? I'm not sure if that's how it works or not, so feel free to let me know. Also, does anybody else here collect shells? 

[nomihoudai]

From what I could gather paper towels are acidic. The issue that people try to avoid by using acid free paper only affects labels printed using inkjet printers. The acidic paper interacts with the ink and makes it hard to read decades from now.

There is buffered paper towels that are neutral. Maybe you can use some cotton wool instead of paper towel if you are unsure.

Personally, I don't think it will be an issue.

[wingedwishes]

I reuse bubble wrap for some of my more delicate fossils,

There is an online shell dealer www.shellhorizons.com in Clearwater Florida I used to go see when I lived there.