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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><font style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
Yes, arsenic indeed migrates through skin on taxidermy mounts via standard mineral efflorescence processes. Early taxidermists knew this and knew that it would require weeks if not longer for the arsenic to protect the hair/feathers. As a consequence, they sometimes sprayed the hair/feathers with mercuric chloride solutions when they completed the mounting of a specimen. Either way, the net result is a handling hazard. Keep wearing the gloves!<br><br>Cathy</font><br> <br>
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<b>From</b>: Pellegrini, Rodrigo [mailto:Rodrigo.Pellegrini@sos.state.nj.us]
<br><b>Sent</b>: Thursday, October 04, 2012 03:20 PM<br><b>To</b>: Dietrich, Elizabeth; 'Ann-Eliza Lewis' <lewisan@earlham.edu>; nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu>
<br><b>Subject</b>: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Cleaning mounted birds
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<div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Wow. My predecessor told me explicitly that arsenic from taxidermy mounts could not seep in through skin contact (unless hands were cracked or there was some other wound on the skin).<br>Good thing I wore nitrile gloves anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Rod<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><img width="314" height="110" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CDA243.CA2B0D20" alt="NH Logo - Small"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Rodrigo Pellegrini, MA, MS<br>Registrar, Natural History Bureau<br>New Jersey State Museum<br>205 W. State St.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">PO Box 530<br>Trenton, NJ 08625-0530<br>USA<br><br>Voice: (609) 292-5615 (office)<br> (609) 826-3924 (laboratory)<br> (609) 826-5449 (storage)<br>Fax: (609) 292-7636<br>E-mail: Rodrigo.Pellegrini@sos.state.nj.us<br>Website: www.newjerseystatemuseum.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Blog: </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="http://njstatemuseum.blogspot.com/">http://njstatemuseum.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dietrich, Elizabeth<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 04, 2012 2:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'Ann-Eliza Lewis'; nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Cleaning mounted birds<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Yes, we developed cleaning techniques as well as clearance sampling protocols. I’d have to dig up the write ups we did, but briefly the work needs to be done in a containment under negative pressure and staff need to be protected from inhalation, ingestion and absorption (through the skin) of arsenic. Having a sampling protocol will help you determine whether the birds are clean enough afterwards for regular use (whatever that may be).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">When retrieving the birds, staff must be protected with adequate PPE so that they don’t get dust on themselves or their clothing or inhale dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Once the birds are in an adequate containment, there are two methods of cleaning. Vacuuming with a HEPA filtered vacuum (fitted with screen over opening and using a “transformer” to reduce power) or using low levels of compressed air (15 psi or less) to gently blow the dust off. If using the second method you will need to capture the dust with a HEPA vacuum or Negative Air Machine (NAM) with HEPA filtration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Neither vacuuming nor blowing air will remove all arsenic or other particulate pesticides (mercury, DDT, strychnine, boric acid) from the birds so they will also need to be labeled as a potential hazard and handled accordingly, however it is possible to remove enough that the birds can be used for museum purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">If you would like more details, please contact me directly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ann-Eliza Lewis<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 04, 2012 2:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Cleaning mounted birds<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Hello,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">We have an extensive collection of mounted birds (most with arsenic) that could use a good dusting. Does anyone have any recommendations for effective cleaning and suggestions for the best staff protection from the arsenic? <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Many thanks!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Ann-Eliza<br><br clear="all"><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">-- <br><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Ann-Eliza Lewis, PhD</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Collection Manager</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Joseph Moore Museum</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Earlham College</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif""><a href="mailto:lewisan@earlham.edu" target="_blank">lewisan@earlham.edu</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif"">765-983-1320</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>