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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Hi Kareen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">The main issues with the use of polystyrene containers are that they:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:#1F497D">Tend to emit peroxides along any scratch, cut edge, or other less-than-highly polished surface – every container seem to have these and this is confirmed by testing to the
<b> </b></span><strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;background:white;font-weight:normal">ISO 18916</span></strong><span style="color:#1F497D"> method - peroxide radicals are potent oxidizers that effectively accelerate
the aging of organic materials <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:#1F497D">Emit styrene monomers that can contaminate collections stored in the boxes (see chapter by Baker on Synthetic Polymers in
<i>Storage of Natural History Collections: A Preventive Conservation Approach) </i>
jeopardizing chemical/biochemical utility<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:#1F497D">Have a low melting point, which means that the will damage collections before the collections themselves are affected by heat/fire<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="color:#1F497D"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:#1F497D">Are based on an benzene ring that is similar in structure to many commonly used pesticides – even small amounts of residual vapor can damage the containers, causing them to “melt” into or on the collections
stored in them (see attached images from various contributors)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">There are many stable acrylics, polyethylene terephthalates, and other materials (including some co-polymers, e.g., Estar DN011) that can be used with collections. Using cost as the main criteria for a storage
material undermines any argument that the collections have value to science, or to posterity for any reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Hope that helps,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Cathy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></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""> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Kareen Schnabel<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 05, 2014 9:21 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] use of containers made from general purpose polystyrene ( GPPS ) in dry collection<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Good afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">We are considering containers to be used in our dry specimen collection (marine invertebrates) and are tempted by inexpensive clear boxes made from general purpose polystyrene ( GPPS ).
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Does anyone have experience with the use of this material in collections?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Suitability for long-term storage? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Is pH a concern?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Thanks for your help,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ">Kareen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Dr Kareen Schnabel</span><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt:.75pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D">Marine Biologist</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D">Invertebrate Collections Manager</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D">+64-4-386-0862 | 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Wellington |
</span><u><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#0066CC"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v1/url?u=http://www.niwa.co.nz&k=diZKtJPqj4jWksRIF4bjkw%3D%3D%0A&r=t40rgi%2FOevtkKz3%2BKB84XA%3D%3D%0A&m=%2BzczMtSegoONc%2F4y%2B75cJn39TfwsRVZAfI%2B73DrgWmo%3D%0A&s=7d55124dc2b3a746381fb401031573c43716bf8256d4bcd45244a31e61a85555" title=""><span style="color:#0066CC">www.niwa.co.nz</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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