<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">Laura,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">The main differences in 2 mil vs 4 mil are (1) the 2 mil is more flexible but (2) the 4 mil is tougher to penetrate (thus less likely to be damaged by a claw or beak). </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">You might want to email a few suppliers and ask if they could send you samples of the various thicknesses. Years ago, when I was still at KU, I had a sample packet that had small pieces of the various thicknesses of plastic that was very useful for selecting the thickness needed for different tasks. There are online guides (such as <a href="https://www.discountvisqueen.com/plastic-sheeting-thickness.php">https://www.discountvisqueen.com/plastic-sheeting-thickness.php</a>) but nothing beats holding the plastic between your fingers to see how thick and flexible it is.<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">Good luck with this project!!!</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000">--John<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:#000000"><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">John E. Simmons<br>Writer and Museum Consultant</span></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif">Museologica<br><i>and</i><br>Investigador Asociado, Departamento de Ornitologia<br>Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima</span></font><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 11:05 PM Fran Ritchie <<a href="mailto:franritchie@gmail.com">franritchie@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Hi Laura!<div><br></div><div>I agree with Andy - I've seen some NPS sites that placed their study skins in the polyethylene tubes. They've been in controlled museum storage for several years now and although I've never performed a specific survey, I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. Not sure the thickness, though. </div><div><br></div><div>As an aside, these were placed in bags also with the intention to protect staff, but this is not necessary if you're wearing PPE and practicing good hygiene. For anyone handling these collections, wear nitrile or latex gloves and wash your hands immediately after removing gloves (after you're done working). Vacuum work areas with HEPA vacuums. I understand why you're needing to place them in the tubes, I just don't want folks worried that it must be done across collections. </div><div><br></div><div>And now, taking this chance to plug an upcoming panel at the next meeting of the American Institute for Conservation in May. The panel is Arsenic in Collections and will feature case studies from institutions who are successfully managing/working with collections that have arsenic as an intrinsic component. Friday, May 24th at 10:30. </div><div><br></div><div>Best,</div><div>Fran</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Mar 7, 2024 at 7:32 PM Abraczinskas, Laura <<a href="mailto:abraczi1@msu.edu" target="_blank">abraczi1@msu.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Greetings Andy,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Thank you so much! I appreciate the information. It seems a useful product, for a variety of reasons, and a better option than zip bags or pre-sized polyethylene bags.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Best,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)">Laura<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Laura Abraczinskas<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Pronouns: She, Her, Hers<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">Michigan State University Museum<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">409 West Circle Drive<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">East Lansing, Michigan 48824<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">USA<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)">(517) 355-1290 (Office)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background:white">Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three
Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.</span></i><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Bentley, Andrew Charles <<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu" target="_blank">abentley@ku.edu</a>> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 07, 2024 7:18 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Abraczinskas, Laura <<a href="mailto:abraczi1@msu.edu" target="_blank">abraczi1@msu.edu</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu" target="_blank">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Nhcoll-l] question about polyethylene bag "tubing" for specimens<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Laura <span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We have used this poly sheeting to store a number of our large gar heads in our dry collection long term and have not noticed any ill effects. Depending on the humidity and temperature of the storage space you may get some condensation
on the inside of the bags if not packaged in a dry environment.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Not sure that 2ml or 4ml would make much difference in that regard. 4ml may be a little more durable to puncture by spiny or rough objects so may be worth the investment. We use the same material we use for packing loans so that we only
have to order one kind and have a large stock of it. We use the 4ml.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">Andy <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPad<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
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<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12pt">On Mar 7, 2024, at 4:14 PM, Abraczinskas, Laura <<a href="mailto:abraczi1@msu.edu" target="_blank">abraczi1@msu.edu</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear NHColl list members,<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am seeking advice about sealing specimens within polyethylene bag “tubing” for temporary storage during a collections move. This is an example of the “tubing”, which is a roll of open-ended polyethylene bags that contents are sealed
within by use of a heat sealing machine. (We have a tabletop impulse sealer).<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing__;!!HXCxUKc!ymc0MDXRapx2VPSVPiw6BGJ90-vZ8WpkGYIMNJceBoheXyiFf1pKrMMTpCWM380kKGUzsfCzs0OS3XXVJw$" target="_blank">https://www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing</a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Michigan State University Museum is preparing for a temporary move of the dry vertebrate collections before a building-wide HVAC renovation project begins! Specimens will be temporarily stored off site for about 18 months. Specimens
will not be stored in their usual cabinets but packed into boxes or other containers and secured at an art storage facility with climate control.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are wondering about use of this product for bird and mammal skins or taxidermy mounts, or other dry specimens. The vendor has asked that we bag and seal anything that may contain arsenic before it is housed at their facility.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are thinking this might be good for pest management too, during the temporary storage.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Does anyone have thoughts about this idea? If a go, would 4 mil polyethylene be recommended, rather than 2 mil?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Uline product is not appropriate, is there another recommended source?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks so much!<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Laura<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Laura Abraczinskas</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Pronouns: She, Her, Hers</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Michigan State University Museum</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">409 West Circle Drive</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">East Lansing, Michigan 48824</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">USA</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(517) 355-1290 (Office)</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Georgia,serif;color:rgb(32,31,30);border:1pt windowtext;padding:0in;background:white">Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three
Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">_______________________________________________<br>
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</blockquote>
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_______________________________________________<br>
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of<br>
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose<br>
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of<br>
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to<br>
society. See <a href="http://www.spnhc.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org</a> for membership information.<br>
Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.<br>
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<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of<br>
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose<br>
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of<br>
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to<br>
society. See <a href="http://www.spnhc.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.spnhc.org</a> for membership information.<br>
Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.<br>
</blockquote></div>