Certain materials which are used for the fabrication of supports, display cases, storage cabinets, or other uses associated with museum artifacts emit volatile acidic compounds. The detection of these compounds is important due to the adverse effect they can have on artifacts. A pH indicator strip saturated in a glycerine-water solution gives one low-cost means of detecting the presence of acidic volatile compounds that may be present in a particular environment. Calibration curves allow the user to estimate the amount of acetic acid present in the gas phase. It is also possible to predict the potential for damage to certain types of materials from the pH readings. Several possible applications are given, including the measurement of acidic materials from a paint, the measurement of acetic acid emission from a silicone sealant, and an evaluation of the effectiveness of shellac as a vapor barrier.