[Nhcoll-l] Collection and curatorial staff health issues

[Baker, Barry]

Have you recently added a dermestid beetle colony? Many people develop
bronchial problems and other allergic reactions from the beetle frass.

Siegel S, Lee N, Rohr A. Evaluation of dermestid sensitivity in museum
personnel. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1991;1:190 (Abstract).

*Barry W. Baker,
CWFS<http://www.wildlifeforensicscience.org/become-certified/>,
RPA <http://www.rpanet.org/>
*
*Senior Forensic Scientist - Morphology*

*USFWS National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory
*
*Morphology Section*
*1490 East Main Street*
*Ashland, Oregon 97520-1310 USA*
*
*
*tel (direct): 541.488.6528*
*tel (front office): 541.482.4191*
*fax 541.482.4989*
*www.lab.fws.gov* <http://www.lab.fws.gov>


On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 12:39 PM, Callomon,Paul <prc44 at drexel.edu> wrote:

>  We had some dry mold in our alcohol room that didn’t bother me or my
> assistants, but that nearly sent a young volunteer to the hospital with
> symptoms that sound similar to yours. Individual susceptibility to molds
> varies enormously, from nothing much (older, rurally raised folks like me)
> to life-threatening (often younger people who grew up in unnaturally clean,
> antiseptic environments). ****
>
> ** **
>
> PC. ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *Paul Callomon*
>
> Collections Manager in Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General
> Invertebrates****
>
> The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University****
>
> 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA  19103****
>
> callomon at ansp.org Tel. 215-405-5096****
>
> *Experience dinosaurs, butterflies, and live animals– all under one roof!
> Visit the Academy today. ansp.org <http://www.ansp.org>     *
>
> Follow us: Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/AcademyofNaturalSciences> |
> Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/AcadNatSci>****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:
> nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Bentley, Andrew Charles
> *Sent:* Friday, September 06, 2013 3:01 PM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] Collection and curatorial staff health issues****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi all****
>
> ** **
>
> We have recently had a spate of health issues specifically related to one
> area of our building and the staff associated with this area.  The symptoms
> are respiratory (tightening of throat and shortness of breath) and skin
> related (lesions, rashes etc.) and isolated to this particular area of the
> building which houses our bird collections, people space and a library.  We
> recently renovated this area which may have disturbed some old underlying
> issue in this area.  Our EHS unit on campus has been through and done the
> usual mold and VOC testing and results suggest that all levels are below
> acceptable levels and guidelines.  There is no smoking gun as it were and
> we have initially, tentatively eliminated the above causes.  At this point
> we are stumped and were wondering if any similar symptoms have been found
> or encountered at any other collection facilities and, more importantly, if
> anyone has any ideas as to what could be causing this.  We would be
> particularly interested in hearing from any institution that may have
> tested for these and other potential harmful side effects of collections.*
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> The only other factors that we can potentially point to is that we
> occasionally get (or used to get) bats and squirrels entering the space and
> “roosting” in the ceiling spaces of this area of the building.  We have
> also been made aware of a malady called bird breeder’s lung or
> hypersensitivity pneumonitis (
> http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/indoorenv/mold.html#5) and wonder if
> anyone has had issues with this in collection environments – specifically
> dry bird collections.****
>
> ** **
>
> Any help or suggestions would be gladly accepted.****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks****
>
> ** **
>
> Andy****
>
> ** **
>
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
>  Andy Bentley
>  Ichthyology Collection Manager
>  University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute****
>
>  Dyche Hall
>  1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
>  Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
>  USA
>
> Tel: (785) 864-3863
> Fax: (785) 864-5335
>  Email: abentley at ku.edu  ****
>
> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu****
>
> ** **
>
> SPNHC President-Elect****
>
> http://www.spnhc.org****
>
> ** **
>
>                            :                 :
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V****
>
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>
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