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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Agreed on all fronts. Let’s stop using it please.<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">3M chemical absorption sheets are the way to go -
<a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.amazon.com_3M-2DChemical-2DP-2D110-2DAbsorption-2DCapacity_dp_B00AKLFZ2C&d=DwMFAw&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=ZrZGlWRBkvSslzhSGe9i6TVmZFRJCbPOeXBN9haEt20&s=5cohQRav2YiRuF1svP31MJaTbZ3Ygy72Tlq6hP0lnN4&e=">
https://www.amazon.com/3M-Chemical-P-110-Absorption-Capacity/dp/B00AKLFZ2C</a>. We cut them into appropriately sized squares to insert into all ethanol containing packages that emanate from the KUBI.<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">Andy<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color:#1F497D"> A : A : A :<br>
}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<br>
Andy Bentley<br>
Ichthyology Collection Manager<br>
University of Kansas<br>
Biodiversity Institute<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color:#1F497D">Dyche Hall<br>
<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9">1345 Jayhawk Boulevard</a><br>
<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9">Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561</a><br>
<a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9">USA</a><br>
<br>
Tel: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-3863" target="_blank">(785) 864-3863</a><br>
Fax: <a href="tel:%28785%29%20864-5335" target="_blank">(785) 864-5335</a> <br>
Email: <a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank">abentley@ku.edu</a> </span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN-AU" style="color:#1F497D"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu_&d=DwMFAw&c=cjytLXgP8ixuoHflwc-poQ&r=LpYc_Z_iN1KRw0hheb3x6-8MJUMu482qfHowpGYJqwc&m=ZrZGlWRBkvSslzhSGe9i6TVmZFRJCbPOeXBN9haEt20&s=nMRgesr9aQxXSdQY4y-s-hNECbDuaU3zeEocrpco4pQ&e=" target="_blank">http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu</a></span><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°><br>
V V V<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Rob Robins<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 9, 2018 1:20 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] Vermiculite as respiratory hazard<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<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 border="0" width="155" height="56" style="width:1.6145in;height:.5833in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D3A1AF.FAA2AC30" alt="FLMNH Fishes logo email small"><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">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=">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=">http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="216" height="144" style="width:2.25in;height:1.5in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D3A1AF.FAA2AC30" alt="21082 Scoop on Poop eSignature_FNL"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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