[Nhcoll-l] Vermiculite as respiratory hazard
Dirk Neumann
dirk.neumann at zsm.mwn.de
Sat Feb 10 11:30:15 EST 2018
Hi Jeff & all
good idea - which countries/ languages would be needed ? So far, I have
encountered vermiculite only in shipments from US institutions; never
saw it in loans from European institutions. Maybe just Spanish would be
sufficient?
Another option would be to notify institutions/colleagues shipping
specimens on vermiculite about the potential health issues when such
loans arrive/are discovered. We would thus reach also colleagues which
do not follow NHColl conversations.
All the best
Dirk
Am 09.02.2018 um 22:48 schrieb Jeff Stephenson:
>
> Thanks Rob!
>
> Is there a way we can get this translated into some other languages
> and spread the word among our international colleagues?
>
> *JEFF STEPHENSON***
>
> /COLLECTIONS MANAGER, ZOOLOGY DEPARTMENT///
>
>
>
>
>
> DMNS 2 Line RGB small.jpg <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.dmns.org_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=3LeukKwPLlq7jHj3uqGFXjvdyAW7Pf5wLbDONvS6_lw&e=>
>
>
>
> jeff.stephenson at dmns.org <mailto:jane.doe at dmns.org>
>
> *W*303.370.8319
> *F *303.331.6492
>
> 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver CO 80205
>
> preserve, <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__community.dmns.org_content_OnlineCommunity.aspx&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=gh6b-xRFUJpOvTShxU-zTC_N04MjGo7e4SsYbQgXINU&e=>
> present, inspire, explore
>
>
>
> www.dmns.org
>
> /The Denver Museum of Nature & Science salutes the citizens of metro
> Denver for helping fund arts, culture and science through their
> support of the //Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD)/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.scfd.org_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=gQHiZZHc654Ti6W7141_tjGJDv2QWwEEKHWa96w3Hgs&e=>/./
>
> *From:*nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of *Dirk Neumann
> *Sent:* Friday, February 09, 2018 2:42 PM
> *To:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Vermiculite as respiratory hazard
>
> Very funny coincidence - James Maclain (NHM London) just brought this
> up in an internal conversation. Actually there is no reason to use it,
> and simple paper towels surely do even better as absorbent material
> for IATA packaging, compared to vermiculite. For A 180 packing, the
> requirement is that the absorbent material must be sufficient to hold
> the entire fluid per packaging in case of leakage. There are no
> further specifications, and even toilet paper would do a perfect job,
> but admittedly tends to be rather unstable compared to normal paper
> towels when wet.
>
> When I receive such shipments, I carefully open the outer packaging
> and remove the vermiculite into a large zip-lock back and immediately
> rinse the inner packing under water to avoid the dust; vermiculite is
> also VERY electrostatic, and you have it just everywhere.
>
> Thanks for pushing this, Rob!
>
> Have a nice weekend
> Dirk
>
>
> Am 09.02.2018 um 20:19 schrieb Rob Robins:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I have health and safety concerns regarding the use of vermiculite
> as an “outer packet” absorbency material in the shipping of
> alcohol preserved specimens. We have never used vermiculite in the
> Florida Museum Fish Collection, but I receive many specimen
> shipments containing it and thus must handle it. And as anyone who
> has touched the stuff can attest, no matter how carefully handled,
> tiny particles of vermiculite end up suspended in the air one is
> breathing.
>
> A number of scientific papers lead me to conclude my health and
> safety concerns are not unreasonable. Here’s some of what I’ve found:
>
> ·No matter where it was mined from, vermiculite is likely to
> contain fibrous minerals.
>
> ·That few of these types of fibrous minerals have been formally
> classified as asbestos and regulated as such would appear to be
> more a function of what fibers were in use commercially at the
> time the regulations were created. (Baumann, F., J. P. Ambrosi,
> and M. Carbone. 2013. Asbestos is not just asbestos: an
> unrecognized health hazard. The Lancet Vol 14 June 2013).
>
> ·To be certain, vermiculite has at times been found to contain
> asbestiform amphiboles (groups of needlelike silicates clumped
> together) such as winchite, richterite, and tremolite, the latter
> of which is regulated (Sullivan, P. 2007. Vermiculite, respiratory
> disease, and asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana: Update of a
> cohort mortality study. Environmental Health Perspectives Apr; 115
> (4): 579-585).
>
> My question to the list: _Why is anyone using vermiculite as an
> absorbent when inert and safe alternatives such as polypropylene
> chemical spill absorbent pads are widely and cheaply available?_
> Failing any good answer to this question, my follow up would be,
> can we all please stop?
>
> Best wishes,
>
>
> Rob Robins
>
> P.S. The Baumann paper concludes thusly, and I agree:
>
> “The restricted regulatory definition of asbestos to six fibres
> used commercially contributes to miscommunication and uncertainty
> regarding the toxic effects of some fibrous minerals. We propose
> that all fibrous minerals be handled as potentially pathogenic
> until they are proven safe. Moreover, to protect human health, a
> wider regulatory definition of asbestos should include all
> potentially carcinogenic mineral fibres, without distinction of
> type and commercial use.”
>
> Robert H. Robins
>
> Collection Manager
>
> Division of Ichthyology
>
> FLMNH Fishes logo email small
>
> Florida Museum of Natural History
>
> 1659 Museum Road
>
> Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
>
> Office: (352) 273-1957
>
> Fax: (352) 846-0287
>
> rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu <mailto:rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>
>
> www.flmnh.ufl.edu
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=Iqw-rABiiHQ3eByQyAewlwB1q-VYWcvAnuniUDpC9Nc&s=CzehaqopVMVx9HyaQBsj8qfUQejcKCtDvfhXtbvfdjQ&e=>
>
> Search the Collection:
>
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu_fishes_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=RfuQ6wKoHi6etqRI_LOoZjU0Vwfj4GZ5tVXn9ArRRNc&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu_fishes_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=Iqw-rABiiHQ3eByQyAewlwB1q-VYWcvAnuniUDpC9Nc&s=YN3ACjRbRajYsSdP1EaSHnj3hr9hRXODPapmVfGEV_c&e=>
>
> 21082 Scoop on Poop eSignature_FNL
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> Nhcoll-l mailing list
>
> Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>
> http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
>
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
>
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
>
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
>
> society. Seehttp://www.spnhc.org
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.spnhc.org&d=DwMD-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=NggKICGIsnT0RZ7ngEdt2zoJh24qvyx5X_-Kr-2f7eg&s=urjf4poaTDw_cTlBPyX6_GSMFojeYzBMYKkzsRVwrdE&e=> for membership information.
>
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.
>
> --
> Dirk Neumann
> Tel: 089 / 8107-111
> Fax: 089 / 8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> Postanschrift:
> Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
> Zoologische Staatssammlung München
> Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
> Münchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 München
> Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=AcGDxR_CYYLOFSQX5n-83NNUzz4Dvs4vvJVFlfpJCRE&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwMD-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=NggKICGIsnT0RZ7ngEdt2zoJh24qvyx5X_-Kr-2f7eg&s=IcW4JxKKEDoWn_KyLDi69BbCF9JgiY4UzowwuwFAT7s&e=>
> ---------
> Dirk Neumann
> Tel: +49-89-8107-111
> Fax: +49-89-8107-300
> email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
> postal address:
> Bavarian Natural History Collections
> The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
> Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
> Muenchhausenstr. 21
> 81247 Munich (Germany)
> Visit our section at:
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=AcGDxR_CYYLOFSQX5n-83NNUzz4Dvs4vvJVFlfpJCRE&e=
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwMD-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=NggKICGIsnT0RZ7ngEdt2zoJh24qvyx5X_-Kr-2f7eg&s=IcW4JxKKEDoWn_KyLDi69BbCF9JgiY4UzowwuwFAT7s&e=>
--
Dirk Neumann
Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
Postanschrift:
Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
Dirk Neumann, Sektion Ichthyologie / DNA-Storage
Münchhausenstr. 21
81247 München
Besuchen Sie unsere Sammlung:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=AcGDxR_CYYLOFSQX5n-83NNUzz4Dvs4vvJVFlfpJCRE&e=
---------
Dirk Neumann
Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
email: Dirk.Neumann(a)zsm.mwn.de
postal address:
Bavarian Natural History Collections
The Bavarian State Collection of Zoology
Dirk Neumann, Section Ichthyology / DNA-Storage
Muenchhausenstr. 21
81247 Munich (Germany)
Visit our section at:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.zsm.mwn.de_ich_&d=DwID-g&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=_zG2XcuqJkEZ3Pu-MGFiAI-M1pbYRY1aDqolTxXcyCk&s=AcGDxR_CYYLOFSQX5n-83NNUzz4Dvs4vvJVFlfpJCRE&e=
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20180210/f3753d28/attachment.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2894 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20180210/f3753d28/attachment.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 4940 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20180210/f3753d28/attachment-0001.jpg
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 46259 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20180210/f3753d28/attachment.png
More information about the Nhcoll-l
mailing list