<div dir="ltr">Also, I know that Bruker is very willing to loan a handheld XRF to museums and even students. I was at a workshop with Dr. Bruce Kaiser from the company and he was enthusiastic about it. Unfortunately I can't guide you beyond offering the website: <a href="http://www.bruker.com/products/x-ray-diffraction-and-elemental-analysis/handheld-xrf.html">http://www.bruker.com/products/x-ray-diffraction-and-elemental-analysis/handheld-xrf.html</a> <div>
<br></div><div>If other institutions in your location have objects they would like to test, you could perhaps even gather people together for an XRF workshop. </div><div><br></div><div>Fran</div><div><br></div><div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
<font color="#666666">Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in </font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px"><font color="#666666">Objects Conservation </font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">
<font color="#666666">National Museum of the American Indian</font></div><div style="color:rgb(80,0,80);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="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 4:18 PM, <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Evelyn.Ayre@pch.gc.ca" target="_blank">Evelyn.Ayre@pch.gc.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p><font face="sans-serif">As Fran mentioned, XRF is a possibility for testing for Arsenic. I just spoke with Jane Sirois, Manager of Preservation Services (previously Senior Conservation Scientist) at CCI, and she mentioned that if you have access to a unit, and someone who can run the XRF (some countries, like Canada, have regulations on who can operate XRF devices) it is best to also have someone who can interpret the results with you. This is important because the peaks for Mercury, Lead and Arsenic overlap, and any Arsenic detected by the XRF may be found below the surface. This is to say, XRF results may be misleading. The advantage of XRF testing is that it is non-destructive, and safe if the operator respects health and safety protocols inherent in using a device that produces radiation.</font><br>
<font face="sans-serif"> </font><br>
<font face="Arial"><b>Evelyn Ayre</b></font><br>
<font face="Arial">Conservator - Intern | Restauratrice - Stagiaire</font><br>
<font face="Arial">Preservation Services | Services de préservation</font><br>
<font face="Arial">Canadian Conservation Institute | Institut canadien de conservation </font><br>
<font face="Arial">Department of Canadian Heritage | Ministère du Patrimoine canadien </font><br>
<font face="Arial">1030 Innes Road | 1030 chemin Innes</font><br>
<font face="Arial">Ottawa ON Canada K1B 4S7</font><br>
<font face="Arial"><a href="mailto:evelyn.ayre@pch.gc.ca" target="_blank">evelyn.ayre@pch.gc.ca</a></font><br>
<font face="Arial">Telephone | Téléphone <a href="tel:1%20%28613%29%20998-3721" value="+16139983721" target="_blank">1 (613) 998-3721</a> ext | poste 235</font><br>
<font face="Arial">Facsimile | Télécopieur <a href="tel:1%20%28613%29%20998-4721" value="+16139984721" target="_blank">1 (613) 998-4721</a></font><br>
<font face="Arial">Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada</font><br>
<br>
<img width="16" height="16" src="cid:1__=0ABBF619DFE036718f9e8a93df9386@pch.gc.ca" border="0" alt="Inactive hide details for Fran Ritchie ---25/02/2014 03:48:34 PM---I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back."><font color="#424282" face="sans-serif">Fran Ritchie ---25/02/2014 03:48:34 PM---I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back. Victoria, I've used a homemade test ki</font><br>
<br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">From: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">Fran Ritchie <<a href="mailto:franritchie@gmail.com" target="_blank">franritchie@gmail.com</a>></font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">To: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">"Wilke, Victoria" <<a href="mailto:vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu" target="_blank">vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu</a>>, </font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Cc: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">"<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a>" <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a>>, Lena Hernandez <<a href="mailto:LHernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank">LHernandez@themosh.org</a>></font><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Date: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">25/02/2014 03:48 PM</font></p><div class=""><br>
<font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Subject: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif">Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</font><br>
</div><font size="1" color="#5F5F5F" face="sans-serif">Sent by: </font><font size="1" face="sans-serif"><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a></font><br>
<hr width="100%" size="2" align="left" noshade style="color:#8091a5"><div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<font size="3" face="serif">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 </font><font face="Arial">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.)</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial">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. </font><br>
<br>
<br>
<font face="Arial">Lena, just curious how you know the specimens have arsenic and that the accumulation of material on the base isn't Borax?</font><br>
<br>
<font face="Arial">Thanks,</font><br>
<font face="Arial">Fran Ritchie</font><br>
<br>
<font color="#666666" face="Arial">Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in </font><br>
<font color="#666666" face="Arial">Objects Conservation </font><br>
<font color="#666666" face="Arial">National Museum of the American Indian</font><br>
<a href="mailto:RitchieF@si.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Arial"><u>RitchieF@si.edu</u></font></a><br>
<br>
<font size="3" face="serif"><br>
</font><br>
<font size="3" face="serif">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 2:58 PM, Wilke, Victoria <</font><a href="mailto:vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu" target="_blank"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><u>vwilke@oeb.harvard.edu</u></font></a><font size="3" face="serif">> wrote:</font>
<ul style="padding-left:9pt"><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Depending on the time the mounts you are referencing were made, arsenic could have been applied as a paste, powder or soap. </font>
<p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">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.</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Victoria</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> </font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma"> [mailto:</font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma">] </font><font face="Tahoma"><b>On Behalf Of </b></font><font face="Tahoma">Lena Hernandez</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Sent:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 2:25 PM</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
To:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Gegick, Patricia, DCA</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"><b><br>
Cc:</b></font><font size="3" face="serif"> </font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><u>nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font size="3" face="serif"><b><br>
Subject:</b></font><font size="3" face="serif"> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">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.</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">I appreciate all of the responses I have gotten so far, but if anyone else has thoughts please voice them!</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Lena Hernandez</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Collections Manager/Registrar</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Museum of Science and History</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">1025 Museum Circle</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri">Jacksonville, FL 32207</font>
</p><p><a href="tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Calibri"><u>(904)396-6674 x212</u></font></a>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="Calibri"> </font>
</p><p><font face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Gegick, Patricia, DCA [</font><a href="mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma">] </font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Sent:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:41 PM</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
To:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Kirsten Nicholson; Lena Hernandez</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Cc:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> </font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Subject:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> RE: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="serif">Dear listees,</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="serif">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?</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="serif">Patti</font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif"><b>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: </b></font><a href="tel:505.841.2867" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><b><u>505.841.2867</u></b></font></a><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif"><b> Fax: </b></font><a href="tel:505.841.2808" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><b><u>505.841.2808</u></b></font></a><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif"><b> <br>
email: </b></font><a href="mailto:patricia.gegick@state.nm.us" target="_blank"><font size="1" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><b><u>patricia.gegick@state.nm.us</u></b></font></a><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif"><b><u> </u></b></font>
</p><p><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif">“Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico</font><font size="3" color="#215868" face="serif">.</font><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif">”</font><font size="3" color="#215868" face="serif"> </font><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif">Lew Wallace, New Mexico Territorial Governor from 1878-1881.</font><font size="3" color="#215868" face="serif"> </font><font size="1" color="#215868" face="serif">New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment</font>
</p><p><font size="1" color="#943634" face="serif"><b> </b></font>
</p><p><font color="#1F497D" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font face="Tahoma"><b>From:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> </font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma"> [</font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma">] </font><font face="Tahoma"><b>On Behalf Of </b></font><font face="Tahoma">Kirsten Nicholson</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Sent:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Tuesday, February 25, 2014 10:55 AM</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
To:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Lena Hernandez</font><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Cc:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> </font><a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank"><font color="#0000FF" face="Tahoma"><u>nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</u></font></a><font face="Tahoma"><b><br>
Subject:</b></font><font face="Tahoma"> Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">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).</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">I would love to hear what others have to offer, though.</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Kirsten</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 9:21 AM, Lena Hernandez <</font><a href="mailto:LHernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><u>LHernandez@themosh.org</u></font></a><font size="3" face="serif">> wrote:</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Hi all, </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">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.</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Lena Hernandez</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Collections Manager/Registrar</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Museum of Science and History</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">1025 Museum Circle</font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif">Jacksonville, FL 32207</font>
</p><p><a href="tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212" target="_blank"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><u>(904)396-6674 x212</u></font></a>
</p><p><a href="mailto:lhernandez@themosh.org" target="_blank"><font size="3" color="#0000FF" face="serif"><u>lhernandez@themosh.org</u></font></a>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"> </font>
</p><p><font size="3" face="serif"><br>
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Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D<br>
</font><font size="1" color="#006600" face="serif"><i><br>
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