[Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing

[Lena Hernandez]

I can understand the potential to miss the arsenic when swabbing, which I believe is why it is recommended to retest specimens every three years or so if you get an initial negative result. Unfortunately, my testing issue does not seem to be so simple as that. One of the specimens I tested had quite the accumulation of arsenic below it  on the base it was mounted on, but still I got a negative result.

I appreciate all of the responses  I have gotten so far, but if anyone else has thoughts please voice them!

Lena Hernandez
Collections Manager/Registrar
Museum of Science and History
1025 Museum Circle
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904)396-6674 x212

From: Gegick, Patricia, DCA [mailto:patricia.gegick at state.nm.us]
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 1:41 PM
To: Kirsten Nicholson; Lena Hernandez
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: RE: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing

Dear listees,
It is my understanding that the arsenic was in a paste form applied to the inside skin of the animal.  It is tiny crystals of this that can migrate to the surface when dry.  If the "cotton swabbing" method is being used, it seems that it depends on whether or not you happen to capture a crystal on your swab.  I've always been slightly skeptical myself as far as whether my "negatives" are valid.  Anyone else have this problem?
Patti

Patricia J. Gegick
Bioscience Collections Specialist
Department of Collections and Research
New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science
1801 Mountain Road, NW
Albuquerque, NM  87104-1375
Phone:  505.841.2867  Fax: 505.841.2808
email:  patricia.gegick at state.nm.us<mailto:patricia.gegick at state.nm.us>
"Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico." Lew Wallace, New Mexico Territorial Governor from 1878-1881. New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Kirsten Nicholson
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 10:55 AM
To: Lena Hernandez
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing

So we have done some fairly extensive testing in our collection and had the same results. Generally this happened where arsenic prepared specimens were in contact with "clean" specimens" and from the literature I am understand that there can be cross contamination. So if possible, you want to quarantine your arsenic specimens away from clean specimens if possible (there are a number of ways to accomplish this).

I would love to hear what others have to offer, though.

Kirsten

On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 9:21 AM, Lena Hernandez <LHernandez at themosh.org<mailto:LHernandez at themosh.org>> wrote:

Hi all,

Recently I attempted testing for arsenic in the mounted specimens of our collection. My issues, that I hope some of you can help with, is that I am getting a negative result on specimens that I am sure have arsenic. Has anyone else run into this problem? If so how did you solve it? I am following the protocol developed by NPS in their Conserve-o-Gram 2/3 and using Hach's arsenic test kit, since the one recommended by NPS is no longer made. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Feel free to contact me off list if you would prefer.


Lena Hernandez
Collections Manager/Registrar

Museum of Science and History
1025 Museum Circle
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904)396-6674 x212<tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212>
lhernandez at themosh.org<mailto:lhernandez at themosh.org>


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Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D

Assoc. Prof. Biology          and       Curator of Natural History
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