[NHCOLL-L:4004] Assessing levels of arsenic (and other pesticides) in natural history specimens

[Scott LaGreca]

Dear Group,
 
Regarding the recent thread (copied below) about deaccessioning
specimens that test positive for arsenic:
 
Can anybody refer  me to a consultancy or company that will perform
assessments of pesticide levels in natural history specimens (arsenic;
napthalene; mercuric chloride). A consultancy in western New England (or
in eastern NY State) would be ideal.
 
Anyone have any contact information?
 
I suppose this question's been asked countless times;  tried checking
the archives (http://research.yale.edu/peabody/nhcoll
<http://research.yale.edu/peabody/nhcoll> ), but my computer isn't
opening the zip files located there.
 
We're currently writing a grant proposal to subsidize pesticide
assessment in my museum--that's why I need this information. 
Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
 
Best wishes,
 
Scott

Scott LaGreca, PhD 
Natural Science Coordinator 
Berkshire Museum 
39 South Street 
Pittsfield, MA  01201  USA 
TEL 413-443-7171, ext. 17 
FAX 413-443-2135 
slagreca at berkshiremuseum.org <mailto:slagreca at berkshiremuseum.org
<blocked::mailto:slagreca at berkshiremuseum.org> > 

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________________________________

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of
Jeff.Stephenson at dmns.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:56 PM
To: patricia.gegick at state.nm.us; NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4001] RE: Deaccessioning arsenic specimens



Hi Patricia,

 

At the Denver Museum, most of the 2,500 bird mounts are positive for
arsenic.  Arsenic was a common pesticide in use from the early days of
preparing taxidermy and study skins, and was only formally prohibited in
the 1970's.  Even then, newer specimens stored with older positive ones
have tested positive, most likely cross-contaminated by their proximity.
We tested 950 loose mounted birds, and 940 of them came back positive.

 

Because most of our birds have good data, our Curator here decided that
we should keep these specimens.  We are currently rehousing them in
separate cabinets that will have arsenic positive labels on the doors.
Staff, volunteers, and visiting researchers are instructed on personal
safety equipment and required to use these while working with the birds.

 

If you should choose to dispose of these mounts, I recommend that your
first choice be a deaccession and transfer to another institution.  If
the birds lack data, and you wish to dispose of them, as in throwing
them out, the specimens would have to be treated as hazardous waste.
You would have to contact the hazardous materials people in your city
for the local regulations; but keep in mind that proper disposal can be
quite expensive.  

 

We have over 1,000 bird mounts on display in enclosed dioramas or
display cases.

 

You shouldn't have to test birds more than once.  In our experience,
false positives and negatives are rare.

 

Thanks,

Jeff Stephenson

 

 

 

From: owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu
[mailto:owner-nhcoll-l at lists.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Gegick, Patricia,
DCA
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 3:13 PM
To: NHCOLL-L at lists.yale.edu
Subject: [NHCOLL-L:4000] Deaccessioning arsenic specimens

 

Hello All,

Our director has recently requested that we deaccession and dispose of
all of our taxidermy birds that have tested positive for arsenic.  These
specimens are currently kept in a separate labeled cabinet, and when
possible, placed in large zip lock bags.  The highest ppm recorded for
any specimen was 0.5 -1.0 ppm.  I am curious to know what other museums
are doing about specimens containing arsenic.  Are they being
deaccessioned and destroyed?  Are they ever on display in closed cases?
If you keep them, are they stored separately?  How often do you test for
arsenic?  Thanks much.

Patricia Gegick

........................................................................
.......... 
Patricia Gegick 
Bioscience Collections Manager 
New Mexico Museum of Natural History 
1801 Mountain Road NW 
Albuquerque, NM  87104-1375 
Phone:  505.841.2867    Fax:  505.841.2866 
email:  pgegick at nmmnh.state.nm.us 
Museum website at www.NMnaturalhistory.org 
.................................................................... 

"Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico."

Lew Wallace, New Mexico Territorial Governor from 1878-1881

            New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment

 

 

 



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