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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">Very funny coincidence - James Maclain
(NHM London) just brought this up in an internal conversation.
Actually there is no reason to use it, and simple paper towels
surely do even better as absorbent material for IATA packaging,
compared to vermiculite. For A 180 packing, the requirement is
that the absorbent material must be sufficient to hold the entire
fluid per packaging in case of leakage. There are no further
specifications, and even toilet paper would do a perfect job, but
admittedly tends to be rather unstable compared to normal paper
towels when wet.<br>
<br>
When I receive such shipments, I carefully open the outer
packaging and remove the vermiculite into a large zip-lock back
and immediately rinse the inner packing under water to avoid the
dust; vermiculite is also VERY electrostatic, and you have it just
everywhere.<br>
<br>
Thanks for pushing this, Rob!<br>
<br>
Have a nice weekend<br>
Dirk <br>
<br>
<br>
Am 09.02.2018 um 20:19 schrieb Rob Robins:<br>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Folks,<o:p></o:p></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.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No matter where it was
mined from, vermiculite is likely to contain fibrous minerals.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->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).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->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).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Rob Robins<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.S. The Baumann paper concludes thusly,
and I agree:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Robert H. Robins<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Division of Ichthyology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:1.6145in;height:.5833in"
id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:part1.C570A461.2E25D02F@zsm.mwn.de" alt="FLMNH
Fishes logo email small" class="" height="56" width="155"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Florida Museum of Natural History<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1659 Museum Road<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gainesville, FL 32611-7800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office: (352) 273-1957<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fax: (352) 846-0287<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu" moz-do-not-send="true">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</a><o:p></o:p></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=" moz-do-not-send="true">www.flmnh.ufl.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Search the Collection: <o:p></o:p></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=" moz-do-not-send="true">http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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