[Nhcoll-l] Poisonous specimens in collection

[Simon Moore]

Thanks John,

I have often wondered about this breakdown of venoms but when I worked at the NHM in London before nitrile gloves were around, I noted that venomous snakes had their mouths filled with cotton wool to prevent accidental pricking and slight, ensuing envenomation.  This always puzzled me as these venoms are protein-based but I had to follow orders being a junior back then!

With all good wishes, Simon.

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian, 



www.natural-history-conservation.com 




> On 30 Apr 2018, at 15:19, John E Simmons <simmons.johne at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Esther,
> I can't answer for stonefish or mollusks, but snake venom is effectively neutralized with preservation in formaldehyde or alcohol. Snake venoms are complex proteins which break down fairly rapidly unless they are dried, and and are denatured in fluid preservatives. Other than the possibility of being scratched by the teeth or fangs, preserved venomous snakes do not present a hazard. The fangs of dry skulls may contain a bit of dry venom and should be handled carefully. The toxins in amphibian skins are also effectively neutralized in preservatives.
> 
> As a general rule, I strongly recommend wearing nitrile or neoprene gloves when handling any fluid-preserved specimen, not because of the animal's toxins but because of trace amounts of formaldehyde and other chemicals that may be in the alcohol.
> 
> --John
> 
> 
> John E. Simmons
> Museologica
> 128 E. Burnside Street
> Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
> simmons.johne at gmail.com <mailto:simmons.johne at gmail.com>
> 303-681-5708
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> and
> Adjunct Curator of Collections
> Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery
> Penn State University
> University Park, Pennsylvania
> and
> Instructor, Museum Studies
> School of Library and Information Science
> Kent State University
> 
> On Mon, Apr 30, 2018 at 10:09 AM, Esther Dondorp <esther.dondorp at naturalis.nl <mailto:esther.dondorp at naturalis.nl>> wrote:
> For new health and safety procedures we are tying to find out if specimens in collections that are intrinsically poisonous can still be a hazard to work with. Think about venomous snakes in ethanol or formalin, stone fish, mollusks. Does anyone has experience with this? Do you have special safety procedures for working with these type of specimens or is there really nothing to worry about after fixation/preservation.  
> 
> Many thanks!
>  
> 
> Esther Dondorp
> 
> 
> 
> Collection manager Reptiles and Amphibians
> 
> 
> T +31 (0)71 751 9313, M +31 (0)6 4870 4107
> Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, The Netherlands
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