<div dir="ltr">Haha Lena, yes, don't mean to sound like a spokesperson for Bruker, but I've had good experiences with their equipment. <div><br></div><div>It's very wise to assume first off that it's arsenic, since so many specimens were laced with them. More recent taxidermists (especially for birds, or maybe exclusively for birds?) used Borax instead, to act as a de-greaser for oily bird skins and to act as a pest deterrent (or that's what the taxidermist who taught me to use Borax told me). The Borax would've been applied to the inside of the skins, so sometimes it escapes through seams and other places, just like arsenic...</div>
<div><br></div><div>I know of some conservation students who treated a museum taxidermy bird that had an accumulation of white particles on the base that ended up being Borax. </div><div><br></div><div>You could take a very small amount (using gloves and tweezers) and place in water to see if it dissolves, like Borax would. </div>
<div><br></div><div>My guess, however, is that if the specimens are older than 30-40 years, then the Borax is wishful thinking on my part.</div><div> </div><div>A workshop would be fun, regardless, though! ;) </div><div><br>
</div><div>Let me know how it turns out!</div><div>Fran</div><div><br></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div class="im"><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><font color="#666666">Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in </font></div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><font color="#666666">Objects Conservation </font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><font color="#666666">National Museum of the American Indian</font></div>
<div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><font color="#666666"><a href="mailto:RitchieF@si.edu" target="_blank">RitchieF@si.edu</a></font></div></div></div><div class=""><div class="adm" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
</div><div class="im" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"></div></div></div><div><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 4:45 PM, Lena Hernandez <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:LHernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank">LHernandez@themosh.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Fran,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I guess I don’t know for certain that it is arsenic instead of borax. This is my first venture into the deep end in our Natural Science collection at MOSH and the majority of my (limited) knowledge on arsenic comes from NPS’ handbook and conserve-o-grams. Is there a way to test to see if the material is borax? Though the general drift of the replies I am getting is <i>contact Bruker, they are awesome!</i> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1f497d">J</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> I may have to see if I can round up a few people in my area for a workshop.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<div class=""><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Lena Hernandez<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Collections Manager/Registrar<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Museum of Science and History<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">1025 Museum Circle<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Jacksonville, FL 32207<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212" value="+19043966674" target="_blank">(904)396-6674 x212</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><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""> Fran Ritchie [mailto:<a href="mailto:franritchie@gmail.com" target="_blank">franritchie@gmail.com</a>] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 3:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> Wilke, Victoria<br><b>Cc:</b> Lena Hernandez; Gegick, Patricia, DCA; <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a></span></p>
<div><div class="h5"><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing<u></u><u></u></div></div><p></p></div><div><div class="h5"><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back. Victoria, I've used a homemade test kit that I assembled based off of <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">the method that Cathy Hawks adapted and that Ellen Carrlee described on her blog: <a href="http://ellencarrlee.wordpress.com/?s=arsenic+testing" target="_blank">http://ellencarrlee.wordpress.com/?s=arsenic+testing</a> I've had multiple successes with it, using the swab method, but now I can't remember exactly how much residue was on the surface. I don't think it was much. (I was able to confirm my findings with XRF, too. The sample that was negative also tested negative using XRF.)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The downside is that you need to make/have KOH and HCl, which is difficult if you're working for a smaller museum with limited or no lab space. The first time I ran this arsenic test I was working for a small museum with no lab and was able to take my samples to a local university chem lab. Ellen points out that her molar solution was obtained from a local pharmacist. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lena, just curious how you know the specimens have arsenic and that the accumulation of material on the base isn't Borax?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thanks,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Fran Ritchie<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666">Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666">Objects Conservation </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666">National Museum of the American Indian</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666"><a href="mailto:RitchieF@si.edu" target="_blank">RitchieF@si.edu</a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 2:58 PM, Wilke, Victoria <<a href="mailto:vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu" target="_blank">vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
<div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Depending on the time the mounts you are referencing were made, arsenic could have been applied as a paste, powder or soap. </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I have read (multiple times!) that re-testing is necessary due to negative results. Have you ever tested the same specimen using different methods? I’ve never used the The Macherey-Nagel Arsenic Paper Test, but would like to hear other’s experiences.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Victoria</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><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""> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lena Hernandez<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 2:25 PM<br><b>To:</b> Gegick, Patricia, DCA</span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing<u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I can understand the potential to miss the arsenic when swabbing, which I believe is why it is recommended to retest specimens every three years or so if you get an initial negative result. Unfortunately, my testing issue does not seem to be so simple as that. One of the specimens I tested had quite the accumulation of arsenic below it on the base it was mounted on, but still I got a negative result.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I appreciate all of the responses I have gotten so far, but if anyone else has thoughts please voice them!</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Lena Hernandez</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Collections Manager/Registrar</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Museum of Science and History</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">1025 Museum Circle</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Jacksonville, FL 32207</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212" target="_blank">(904)396-6674 x212</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><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""> Gegick, Patricia, DCA [<a href="mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us" target="_blank">mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us</a>] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:41 PM<br><b>To:</b> Kirsten Nicholson; Lena Hernandez<br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#1f497d">Dear listees,</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#1f497d">It is my understanding that the arsenic was in a paste form applied to the inside skin of the animal. It is tiny crystals of this that can migrate to the surface when dry. If the “cotton swabbing” method is being used, it seems that it depends on whether or not you happen to capture a crystal on your swab. I’ve always been slightly skeptical myself as far as whether my “negatives” are valid. Anyone else have this problem?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#1f497d">Patti</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#215868">Patricia J. Gegick <br>Bioscience Collections Specialist<br>Department of Collections and Research <br>
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science <br>1801 Mountain Road, NW <br>Albuquerque, NM 87104-1375 <br>Phone: <a href="tel:505.841.2867" target="_blank">505.841.2867</a> Fax: <a href="tel:505.841.2808" target="_blank">505.841.2808</a> <br>
email: <a href="mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us" target="_blank">patricia.gegick@state.nm.us</a><u> </u></span></b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#215868">“Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico</span><span style="color:#215868">.</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#215868">”</span><span style="color:#215868"> </span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#215868">Lew Wallace, New Mexico Territorial Governor from 1878-1881.</span><span style="color:#215868"> </span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#215868">New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#943634"> </span></b><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century Schoolbook","serif";color:#1f497d"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><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""> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a> [<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kirsten Nicholson<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 10:55 AM<br><b>To:</b> Lena Hernandez<br><b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">So we have done some fairly extensive testing in our collection and had the same results. Generally this happened where arsenic prepared specimens were in contact with "clean" specimens" and from the literature I am understand that there can be cross contamination. So if possible, you want to quarantine your arsenic specimens away from clean specimens if possible (there are a number of ways to accomplish this).<u></u><u></u></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I would love to hear what others have to offer, though.<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">
Kirsten<u></u><u></u></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 9:21 AM, Lena Hernandez <<a href="mailto:LHernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank">LHernandez@themosh.org</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
<div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hi all, <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Recently I attempted testing for arsenic in the mounted specimens of our collection. My issues, that I hope some of you can help with, is that I am getting a negative result on specimens that I am sure have arsenic. Has anyone else run into this problem? If so how did you solve it? I am following the protocol developed by NPS in their Conserve-o-Gram 2/3 and using Hach’s arsenic test kit, since the one recommended by NPS is no longer made. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Feel free to contact me off list if you would prefer.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Lena Hernandez<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Collections Manager/Registrar<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Museum of Science and History<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">1025 Museum Circle<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jacksonville, FL 32207<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<a href="tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212" target="_blank">(904)396-6674 x212</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:lhernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank">lhernandez@themosh.org</a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u></u><u></u></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><br>_______________________________________________<br>Nhcoll-l mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">Nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l" target="_blank">http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of<br>
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose<br>mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of<br>natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to<br>society. See <a href="http://www.spnhc.org" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org</a> for membership information.<u></u><u></u></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br clear="all"><u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">-- <br><span style="color:#006600;background:white">Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D<br>
<br></span><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#006600;background:white">Assoc. Prof. Biology and Curator of Natural History<br>Dept. of Biology Museum of Cultural and Natural History<br>
217 Brooks Hall 103 Rowe Hall<br>Central Michigan Univ. Central Michigan University <br>Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859<br><a href="tel:989-774-3758" target="_blank">989-774-3758</a> <a href="tel:989-774-3829" target="_blank">989-774-3829</a></span></i><b><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#336666;background:black"><br>
</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;background:black"><br></span></i><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt"><br></span></i><br><br><u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">
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<br>_______________________________________________<br>NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of<br>Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose<br>mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of<br>
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to<br>society. See <a href="http://www.spnhc.org" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org</a> for membership information.<u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">
<u></u> <u></u></p></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>