[Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing
Anderson, Gretchen
AndersonG at CarnegieMNH.Org
Tue Feb 25 16:36:58 EST 2014
Good point Evelyn. Mercury, Lead and Arsenic are just a few of the potentially toxic materials that have been used in taxidermy. With this in mind, when using an XRF, do not test near the ears – lead is often used to shape ears.
Gretchen Anderson
Conservator
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
5800 Baum Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
Phone (412)665-2607
Andersong at CarnegieMNH.org<mailto:Andersong at CarnegieMNH.org>
http://www.carnegiemnh.org
From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Evelyn.Ayre at pch.gc.ca
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 4:19 PM
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu; Lena Hernandez; Jane.Sirois at pch.gc.ca; nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing
As Fran mentioned, XRF is a possibility for testing for Arsenic. I just spoke with Jane Sirois, Manager of Preservation Services (previously Senior Conservation Scientist) at CCI, and she mentioned that if you have access to a unit, and someone who can run the XRF (some countries, like Canada, have regulations on who can operate XRF devices) it is best to also have someone who can interpret the results with you. This is important because the peaks for Mercury, Lead and Arsenic overlap, and any Arsenic detected by the XRF may be found below the surface. This is to say, XRF results may be misleading. The advantage of XRF testing is that it is non-destructive, and safe if the operator respects health and safety protocols inherent in using a device that produces radiation.
Evelyn Ayre
Conservator - Intern | Restauratrice - Stagiaire
Preservation Services | Services de préservation
Canadian Conservation Institute | Institut canadien de conservation
Department of Canadian Heritage | Ministère du Patrimoine canadien
1030 Innes Road | 1030 chemin Innes
Ottawa ON Canada K1B 4S7
evelyn.ayre at pch.gc.ca<mailto:evelyn.ayre at pch.gc.ca>
Telephone | Téléphone 1 (613) 998-3721 ext | poste 235
Facsimile | Télécopieur 1 (613) 998-4721
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada
[Inactive hide details for Fran Ritchie ---25/02/2014 03:48:34 PM---I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back.]Fran Ritchie ---25/02/2014 03:48:34 PM---I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back. Victoria, I've used a homemade test ki
From: Fran Ritchie <franritchie at gmail.com<mailto:franritchie at gmail.com>>
To: "Wilke, Victoria" <vwilke at oeb.harvard.edu<mailto:vwilke at oeb.harvard.edu>>,
Cc: "nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>" <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>>, Lena Hernandez <LHernandez at themosh.org<mailto:LHernandez at themosh.org>>
Date: 25/02/2014 03:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing
Sent by: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu>
________________________________
I meant to "reply to all" earlier when I e-mailed Lena back. Victoria, I've used a homemade test kit that I assembled based off of the method that Cathy Hawks adapted and that Ellen Carrlee described on her blog: http://ellencarrlee.wordpress.com/?s=arsenic+testing I've had multiple successes with it, using the swab method, but now I can't remember exactly how much residue was on the surface. I don't think it was much. (I was able to confirm my findings with XRF, too. The sample that was negative also tested negative using XRF.)
The downside is that you need to make/have KOH and HCl, which is difficult if you're working for a smaller museum with limited or no lab space. The first time I ran this arsenic test I was working for a small museum with no lab and was able to take my samples to a local university chem lab. Ellen points out that her molar solution was obtained from a local pharmacist.
Lena, just curious how you know the specimens have arsenic and that the accumulation of material on the base isn't Borax?
Thanks,
Fran Ritchie
Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in
Objects Conservation
National Museum of the American Indian
RitchieF at si.edu<mailto:RitchieF at si.edu>
On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 2:58 PM, Wilke, Victoria <vwilke at oeb.harvard.edu<mailto:vwilke at oeb.harvard.edu>> wrote:
Depending on the time the mounts you are referencing were made, arsenic could have been applied as a paste, powder or soap.
I have read (multiple times!) that re-testing is necessary due to negative results. Have you ever tested the same specimen using different methods? I’ve never used the The Macherey-Nagel Arsenic Paper Test, but would like to hear other’s experiences.
Victoria
From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu<mailto: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 Lena Hernandez
Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 2:25 PM
To: Gegick, Patricia, DCA
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Arsenic testing
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<tel:%28904%29396-6674%20x212>
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<mailto: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<tel:505.841.2867> Fax: 505.841.2808<tel: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>
_______________________________________________
Nhcoll-l mailing list
Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.
--
Kirsten E. Nicholson, Ph.D
Assoc. Prof. Biology and Curator of Natural History
Dept. of Biology Museum of Cultural and Natural History
217 Brooks Hall 103 Rowe Hall
Central Michigan Univ. Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859 Mt. Pleasant, MI 48859
989-774-3758<tel:989-774-3758> 989-774-3829<tel:989-774-3829>
_______________________________________________
Nhcoll-l mailing list
Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org<http://www.spnhc.org/> for membership information.
_______________________________________________
Nhcoll-l mailing list
Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:Nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
http://mailman.yale.edu/mailman/listinfo/nhcoll-l
_______________________________________________
NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
The information contained in this message and/or attachments is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any system and destroy any copies. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20140225/9b465dd5/attachment-0001.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 105 bytes
Desc: image001.gif
Url : http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/nhcoll-l/attachments/20140225/9b465dd5/attachment-0001.gif
More information about the Nhcoll-l
mailing list