[NHCOLL-L:3412] Fwd: Re: [AVECOL-L] Mercury levels in old specimens

Wed Apr 25 18:03:19 EDT 2007

Hi everyone,
Thanks!  Here is a forwarded message from Cathy Hawks about Mercury in 
collections.
Laura

>Envelope-to: abraczi1 at msu.edu
>From: CAHawks at aol.com
>Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:56:23 EDT
>Subject: Re: [AVECOL-L] Mercury levels in old specimens
>To: abraczi1 at msu.edu
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>
>I think it should be fine. Cathy
>
>In a message dated 4/25/2007 2:46:11 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
>abraczi1 at msu.edu writes:
>Hello again Cathy,
>I sent your message on to Kim Bostwick from Cornell.  She wanted me to
>forward her message to NHCOLL-L.  I am getting ready to do that.  Is it
>okay to put your message (below) on NHCOLL-L too?  The information on
>Mercury in collections is really helpful.
>Thanks,
>Laura
>
>
>At 10:34 AM 4/22/2007, you wrote:
> >Hi Laura,
> >
> >I'm not sure I'm on the right track here, but have attached the article we
> >did for TAXON on the mercury vapor indicator. It can, of course, be used
> >for any kind of collection.
> >
> >Yes, generally mercury was usually applied to collections in the form of
> >mercuric chloride (aka, "corrosive sublimate"). A very complex series of
> >chemical changes, triggered by various physical and biological factors,
> >can result in the formation of  species of mercury sulfides and colloidal
> >mercury in/on specimens. Apart from staining that may occur, there is apt
> >to be damage to DNA as a result of the treatments, and depending upon the
> >type of specimens, the very low pH of the mercuric chloride solutions can
> >cause damage as well.
> >
> >There are three things to keep in mind in terms of human safety:
> >
> >1. Mercury salts pose little hazard via transfer through skin. Wearing
> >nitrile gloves is usually sufficient protection.
> >
> >2. All inorganic mercury compounds off gas mercury vapor at what we think
> >of as room or ambient temperatures. Consequently, the major health risk is
> >vapor inhalation. When specimens are stored in closed cabinets or in rooms
> >with poor ventilation, vapor concentrations can build to unacceptable
> >levels. This is why the attached test is geared to vapor detection. It is
> >important to screen collections for the vapor to see if you have a
> >problem. If a problem is indicated, contact a safety professional to
> >design acceptable solutions. Often, protocols to open cabinet doors
> >properly, and/or increased ventilation can solve the problem.
> >
> >3. Mercury vapor transfers mercury from treated to untreated materials,
> >including not only other specimens, but also case finishes (especially
> >paints) and case components (storage boxes, folders, etc.). Wooden cases
> >or drawers can off gas mercury vapor for years after exposure to a treated
> >collection. While it is possible to ventilate painted metal cabinets and
> >reduce the risk, wood is likely to pose a very long-term problem.
> >
> >Cathy
> >
> >Catharine Hawks
> >Conservator
> >2419 Barbour Road
> >Falls Church VA 22043-3026 USA
> >t/f 703.876.9272
> >
> >In a message dated 4/20/2007 4:44:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> >abraczi1 at msu.edu writes:
> >To Barbara Hamann and Cathy Hawks)
> >
> >Hi Barbara and Cathy,
> >
> >Do you have any further information about Mercury tests for natural history
> >specimens?  The message below appeared on the bird collections list this
> >week (Avecol-l).
> >
> >Barbara, do you recall a recent article describing "an easy" Mercury test
> >for birds?  You and I discussed it at a semi-recent SPNHC meeting.  I can't
> >seem to put my hands on it, nor find it online (it was not from Collection
> >Forum or a SPNHC Newsletter).
> >
> >Are you going to SPNHC in Minneapolis?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Laura
> >
> > >Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:33:23 -0500
> > >To: Bulletin Board for Bird Collections and
> > >Curators               <AVECOL-L at LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
> > >From: Laura Abraczinskas <abraczi1 at msu.edu>
> > >Subject: Re: [AVECOL-L] Mercury levels in old specimens
> > >
> > >Hi Kim,
> > >
> > >FYI - See these links for publications on Mercury in natural history
> > >collections.  It has been reported that mercury applied to museum
> > >objects/specimens was primarily corrosive sublimate, (HgCl2).
> > >
> > >http://www.spnhc.org/opencms/opencms/spnhc/publications/linked_documents/
> > CF16-1_2.htm
> > >(click on the titles for full articles)
> > >
> > >http://www.spnhc.org/opencms/opencms/spnhc/publications/linked_documents/
> > CF17-1_2.htm
> > >
> > >Also see Collection Forum Volume 20 (1-2) (no link yet).
> > >
> > >Do you mind if I forward your message to NHCOLL-L (natural history
> > >collections discussion list)?
> > >
> > >Best,
> > >Laura
> > >
> > >In general I know almost nothing about the usage of mercury in museum
> > >specimens historically and would be curious for any information any one
> > >could share.
> > >
> > >Cheers,
> > >Kim
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >At 03:11 PM 4/19/2007, you wrote:
> > >>Greetings All,
> > >>
> > >>Recently 2 issues have come up here concerning the historic usage of
> > >>mercury-containing compounds for guarding old specimens against pests.
> > >>
> > >>  First, we had one of our dingier-looking old redtail mounts tested for
> > >> Mercury and nearly gave EHS a collective heart-attack with the resultant
> > >> high levels found.  THAT was fun and interesting (we are now fighting to
> > >> be allowed to simply recycle the new cardboard boxes in which the mounts
> > >> were stored temporarily during a move).
> > >>
> > >>Then this week I received an email from a feather-loanee (Chris Rimmer)
> > >>reporting high levels of mercury in a specimen in which they want to
> > >>detect natural levels of inorganic mercury contamination (see his email
> > >>below).  He is looking for information on protocol used in the previous
> > >>century for applying the mercury compounds, so that they might recreate
> > >>the procedure to try to find a way to remove the "treatment" mercury
> > >>while leaving the "natural".
> > >>
> > >>Can anyone point me/him in the direction of some resource?  In general I
> > >>know almost nothing about the usage of mercury in museum specimens
> > >>historically and would be curious for any information any one could 
> share.
> > >>
> > >>Cheers,
> > >>Kim
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>"I'm hoping you can help me with a request related to our planned
> > >>analysis of mercury in the Bicknell's Thrush specimen breast feathers you
> > >>sent me from the Cornell collection.  My collaborator at Texas A&M Trace
> > >>Element Research Lab, Bob Taylor, and I are concerned about possible
> > >>contamination of specimens with inorganic mercury.  Some months ago, we
> > >>ran analyses on breast feathers from a Bicknell's Thrush and Swainson's
> > >>Thrush collected in the 1880s, and mercury levels of both were extremely
> > >>high.  I gather that mercuric chloride, or similar mercury-containing
> > >>compounds, may have been routinely applied to museum specimens,
> > >>particularly older ones, during the curation process.  Bob and I are
> > >>wondering how we can account for this in analyzing mercury burdens in
> > >>these feathers and comparing them to feathers we have recently collected
> > >>from mist-netted thrushes.  Bob's thought is that if we could identify
> > >>the specific protocols that were used in treating specimens with mercuric
> > >>chloride or similar compounds, we could potentially replicate those
> > >>treatments on other sets of feathers (definitely NOT those from the
> > >>specimens you sent, however).
> > >>
> > >>Our idea is to use several sets of paired feathers for this.  In each
> > >>set, one feather would be treated as a specimen might have been, and the
> > >>other would be left untreated.  We would then bathe the treated feather
> > >>in a dilute HCl solution, which should remove the applied inorganic
> > >>Hg.  Analyzing both feathers should then produce Hg levels that are very
> > >>similar.  If so, we will then feel confident using the HCl bath on the
> > >>specimen feathers you and other curators sent us.  If the HCl bath fails
> > >>to remove all the treated Hg, we will have to find another removal
> > >>method.  The alternative is simply to measure methylmercury in the
> > >>specimen feathers (i.e. the toxic form that is sequestered from the
> > >>bird's system), but this is a more complicated and much more costly
> > >>analysis.  Thus, our hope is be able to remove the inorganic mercury from
> > >>the feather surfaces prior to analyses.
> > >>
> > >>My request is whether you can point me towards any published or
> > >>unpublished documents or other historical references that describe
> > >>specimen treatment protocols, especially those that include any
> > >>application of mercury-containing compounds.  Of course, anything
> > >>specific to Cornell curation practices would be especially helpful.  If
> > >>those practices have changed over time, that would be important
> > >>information as well.  Basically, any citations, copies of documents, or
> > >>other insights would be extremely useful and much appreciated."
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>*************************
> > >>
> > >>Dr. Kimberly Bostwick
> > >>
> > >>Curator, Birds and Mammals Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates
> > >>
> > >>& Research Associate, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
> > >>
> > >>Cornell University
> > >>
> > >>(607) 254-2160
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>Mailing Address:
> > >>
> > >>Imogene Powers Johnson Center
> > >>
> > >>159 Sapsucker Woods Road
> > >>
> > >>Ithaca, New York 14850
> > >
> > >Laura Abraczinskas
> > >Collections Manager
> > >Vertebrate Natural History Collections
> > >Michigan State University Museum
> > >West Circle Drive
> > >East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045
> > >
> > >517/355-1290 (office)
> > >517/432-2846 (FAX)
> >
> >Laura Abraczinskas
> >Collections Manager
> >Vertebrate Natural History Collections
> >Michigan State University Museum
> >West Circle Drive
> >East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045
> >
> >517/355-1290 (office)
> >517/432-2846 (FAX)
> >
> >
> >Catharine Hawks
> >Conservator
> >2419 Barbour Road
> >Falls Church VA 22043-3026 USA
> >t/f 703.876.9272
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >----------
> >See what's free at <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503>AOL.com.
>
>Laura Abraczinskas
>Collections Manager
>Vertebrate Natural History Collections
>Michigan State University Museum
>West Circle Drive
>East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045
>
>517/355-1290 (office)
>517/432-2846 (FAX)
>
>
>Catharine Hawks
>Conservator
>2419 Barbour Road
>Falls Church VA 22043-3026 USA
>t/f 703.876.9272
>
>
>
>
>----------
>See what's free at <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503>AOL.com.

Laura Abraczinskas
Collections Manager
Vertebrate Natural History Collections
Michigan State University Museum
West Circle Drive
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1045

517/355-1290 (office)
517/432-2846 (FAX) 