[Nhcoll-l] Mold in our bird collection

[Simon Moore]

It does seem odd to experience a mould outbreak at such low pH, normally upwards of 55/60%.  The method I use to clean is using a soft brush with a broad spread of bristles, dipped in ethanol; make sure that the fungal growth is removed on the brush, wipe off the brush and repeat.  For smaller areas of mould I use cotton swabs dipped in ethanol.

With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian, 

www.natural-history-conservation.com 




> On 15 Sep 2020, at 22:16, Robert Waller <rw at protectheritage.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Ariel,
> It seems extraordinary to have mold growth at the conditions you mention (40-42%RH and 64-68°F).
> Can you be certain that wet or damp materials have not been placed within the cabinets? In my experience a small amount of damp material in a metal cabinet can raise the RH to 100% for days to weeks.
> Rob
>  
> From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of ELLEN PEARLSTEIN
> Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 4:29 PM
> To: Gaffney, Ariel M <ariel_gaffney at fws.gov>
> Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Mold in our bird collection
>  
> Hello!
>  
> Please do not irradiate these collections with UV, which will destroy the keratin! Also, ammonia or any high pH solution can displace and destroy biopigments. Often for major outbreaks, a fume cupboard can be created or rented, and collections should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum and swabbed with isopropanol. Operators should be using PPE. Collections should be returned to a dry climate (RH at 40% +/- 5) onto shelves that have been disinfected.
>  
> Hope this helps!
> Ellen
>  
> Ellen Pearlstein
> Professor
>  
> UCLA Information Studies
> 230 GSEIS 
> Los Angeles, CA 90095
>  
> UCLA/Getty Program in the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials
> A 410 Fowler
> Los Angeles, CA 90095
>  
> epearl at ucla.edu
> Editor, Conservation of featherwork from Central and South America
> https://archetype.co.uk/our-titles/conservation-of-featherwork-from-central-and-south-america/?id=245
>  
> PI, Andrew W. Mellon Opportunity for Diversity in Conservation
> http://conservation.ucla.edu/Mellon_diversity_opportunity
> https://www.instagram.com/uclagettydiversityconservation/?hl=en
>  
>  
> As a land grant institution, the faculty and administration at UCLA acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands).
>  
>  
> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 1:10 PM Gaffney, Ariel M <ariel_gaffney at fws.gov> wrote:
> Our collection here at the National Fish & Wildlife Forensic Laboratory is experiencing an unprecedented mold outbreak in our bird collection and we could use some advice about mold removal and cleaning while protecting the specimens.
> 
>  
> 
> A few weeks ago we found two cabinets with mold growth, some skins were nearly encased in a thin mold film. The specimens with obvious mold growth were moved to the freezer, then cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in ammonia. All other specimens were placed in a hood with a UV light for 24 hours. The drawers were cleaned with ammonia and then a UV light was placed inside the cabinet for 24 hours. 
> 
>  
> 
> We have now discovered more cabinets with mold. Has anyone encountered large-scale mold outbreak in their collection? How did you handle cleaning?
> 
> From what I've read, UV light exposure will kill the mold and won't necessarily harm the specimens unless exposed to UV light for an extensive period of time. 
> Is ammonia the best way of cleaning specimens? Should we be using Ethanol or another solution for the specimens with visible mold growth? 
> 
> How would you wipe down/rid the bird skins of mold growing on them? Damp rag with ethanol? Cotton swabs?
> 
>  
> 
> This is a brand new facility built in the last year. The humidity in the building ranges from 40-42% and the temperature is kept from 64-68 F. We put in dehumidifiers this week to try and drop the humidity even further and are considering an anti-fungal fogger. If anyone has had experience with any of these foggers, we'd appreciate your insight. 
> 
>  
> 
> Any/all advice would be appreciated.
> 
>  
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Ariel Gaffney
> 
>  
>  
> ---
> Ariel M. Gaffney, M.Sc.
> Forensic Scientist / Ornithologist
> Office of Law Enforcement
> National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory
> 1490 E. Main Street
> Ashland, OR  97520
> phone:  541-488-6516
> fax: 541-482-4989​
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> _______________________________________________
> 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. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.