Health hazards posed by the application of pesticide and heavy metal treatments of museum collections are problems that must be addressed. Surface cleaning will not remove poisonous substances embedded in the matrix of items. Efforts were undertaken to find a detoxification method that would better decontaminate objects, both individually and in groups. Carbon dioxide in its liquid or supercritical state offers alternative methods for better decontamination of objects. However, a detailed knowledge about the properties of the different materials is necessary in order to prevent any possible damage to those sensitive to liquid carbon dioxide (L-CO2) or supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Sensitive materials should be excluded from the process given that damage to the object is unacceptable from a conservation point of view.