<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><div><div><div>I agree! We should stop using vermiculite, particularly when superior alternatives are readily available.<br><br></div>Thank you very much, Rob!<br><br></div>H.J.<br><br></div>H.J. Walker, Jr.<br></div>Scripps Institution of Oceanography<br></div>University of California, San Diego 0244<br></div>La Jolla, CA 92093-0244<br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 9, 2018 at 11:31 AM, Katherine Maslenikov <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pearsonk@uw.edu" target="_blank">pearsonk@uw.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">I absolutely agree with Rob! I hate receiving vermiculite packaging with specimens. In addition to potential respiratory issues it is just messy and irritating. I would love it if we could stop using it as a community and switch to absorbent pads.<div><br></div><div>Thank you Rob!</div><div><br></div><div>-Katherine</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 9, 2018 at 11:19 AM, Rob Robins <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu" target="_blank">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Folks,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have health and safety concerns regarding the use of vermiculite as an “outer packet” absorbency material in the shipping of alcohol preserved specimens. We have never used vermiculite in the Florida Museum Fish Collection, but I receive
many specimen shipments containing it and thus must handle it. And as anyone who has touched the stuff can attest, no matter how carefully handled, tiny particles of vermiculite end up suspended in the air one is breathing.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A number of scientific papers lead me to conclude my health and safety concerns are not unreasonable. Here’s some of what I’ve found:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="m_-8203926832555823172m_-7208872136986607983MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>No matter where it was mined from, vermiculite is likely to contain fibrous minerals.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="m_-8203926832555823172m_-7208872136986607983MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>That few of these types of fibrous minerals have been formally classified as asbestos and regulated as such would appear to be more a function of what fibers were in use commercially at the time the regulations were created. (Baumann,
F., J. P. Ambrosi, and M. Carbone. 2013. Asbestos is not just asbestos: an unrecognized health hazard. The Lancet Vol 14 June 2013).
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="m_-8203926832555823172m_-7208872136986607983MsoListParagraph"><u></u><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><u></u>To be certain, vermiculite has at times been found to contain asbestiform amphiboles (groups of needlelike silicates clumped together) such as winchite, richterite, and tremolite, the latter of which is regulated (Sullivan, P.
2007. Vermiculite, respiratory disease, and asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana: Update of a cohort mortality study. Environmental Health Perspectives Apr; 115 (4): 579-585).<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My question to the list: <u>Why is anyone using vermiculite as an absorbent when inert and safe alternatives such as polypropylene chemical spill absorbent pads are widely and cheaply available?</u> Failing any good answer to this question,
my follow up would be, can we all please stop?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best wishes,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Rob Robins<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.S. The Baumann paper concludes thusly, and I agree:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The restricted regulatory definition of asbestos to six fibres used commercially contributes to miscommunication and uncertainty regarding the toxic effects of some fibrous minerals. We propose that all fibrous minerals be handled as potentially
pathogenic until they are proven safe. Moreover, to protect human health, a wider regulatory definition of asbestos should include all potentially carcinogenic mineral fibres, without distinction of type and commercial use.”<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Robert H. Robins<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collection Manager<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Division of Ichthyology<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:1.6145in;height:.5833in" id="m_-8203926832555823172m_-7208872136986607983Picture_x0020_1" alt="FLMNH Fishes logo email small" width="155" height="56"><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Florida Museum of Natural History<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1659 Museum Road<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gainesville, FL 32611-7800<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office: <a href="tel:(352)%20273-1957" value="+13522731957" target="_blank">(352) 273-1957</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: <a href="tel:(352)%20846-0287" value="+13528460287" target="_blank">(352) 846-0287</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu" target="_blank">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.flmnh.ufl.edu_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=Iqw-rABiiHQ3eByQyAewlwB1q-VYWcvAnuniUDpC9Nc&s=CzehaqopVMVx9HyaQBsj8qfUQejcKCtDvfhXtbvfdjQ&e=" target="_blank">www.flmnh.ufl.edu</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Search the Collection: <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu_fishes_&d=DwMFAg&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=Iqw-rABiiHQ3eByQyAewlwB1q-VYWcvAnuniUDpC9Nc&s=YN3ACjRbRajYsSdP1EaSHnj3hr9hRXODPapmVfGEV_c&e=" target="_blank">http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl<wbr>.edu/fishes/</a><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:2.25in;height:1.5in" id="m_-8203926832555823172m_-7208872136986607983Picture_x0020_2" alt="21082 Scoop on Poop eSignature_FNL" width="216" border="0" height="144"><u></u><u></u></p>
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<br></blockquote></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="m_-8203926832555823172gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Katherine Pearson Maslenikov<div>Collections Manager</div><div>University of Washington Fish Collection</div><div>School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences and</div><div>Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture</div><div>Box 355100</div><div>Seattle, WA 98195</div><div><a href="tel:(206)%20543-3816" value="+12065433816" target="_blank">(206) 543-3816</a></div><div><a href="mailto:pearsonk@uw.edu" target="_blank">pearsonk@uw.edu</a></div><div><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__uwfishcollection.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=XADGln4STyh35E1Pfii_aT6FmFWKEOtER1of9zmv7Tc&s=8gTZRzUrDugpcvIohZymFlglXD4cyv5PJSnHsqkwAfg&e=" target="_blank">http://uwfishcollection.org</a></div></div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>H.J. Walker, Jr.</div><div>Marine Vertebrate Collection<br></div>Scripps Institution of Oceanography<br></div>University of California, San Diego 0244<br></div>La Jolla, CA 92093-0244<br></div></div>
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