[Nhcoll-l] Mold in our bird collection

[ELLEN PEARLSTEIN]

Hello!

Please do not irradiate these collections with UV, which will destroy the
keratin! Also, ammonia or any high pH solution can displace and destroy
biopigments. Often for major outbreaks, a fume cupboard can be created or
rented, and collections should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum and swabbed
with isopropanol. Operators should be using PPE. Collections should be
returned to a dry climate (RH at 40% +/- 5) onto shelves that have been
disinfected.

Hope this helps!
Ellen

Ellen Pearlstein
Professor

UCLA Information Studies
230 GSEIS
Los Angeles, CA 90095

UCLA/Getty Program in the Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic
Materials
A 410 Fowler
Los Angeles, CA 90095

epearl at ucla.edu
Editor, Conservation of featherwork from Central and South America
https://archetype.co.uk/our-titles/conservation-of-featherwork-from-central-and-south-america/?id=245

PI, Andrew W. Mellon Opportunity for Diversity in Conservation
http://conservation.ucla.edu/Mellon_diversity_opportunity
https://www.instagram.com/uclagettydiversityconservation/?hl=en


As a land grant institution, the faculty and administration at UCLA
acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land
caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands).


On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 1:10 PM Gaffney, Ariel M <ariel_gaffney at fws.gov>
wrote:

> Our collection here at the National Fish & Wildlife Forensic Laboratory is
> experiencing an unprecedented mold outbreak in our bird collection and we
> could use some advice about mold removal and cleaning while protecting the
> specimens.
>
>
> A few weeks ago we found two cabinets with mold growth, some skins were
> nearly encased in a thin mold film. The specimens with obvious mold growth
> were moved to the freezer, then cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in
> ammonia. All other specimens were placed in a hood with a UV light for 24
> hours. The drawers were cleaned with ammonia and then a UV light was placed
> inside the cabinet for 24 hours.
>
>
> We have now discovered more cabinets with mold. Has anyone encountered
> large-scale mold outbreak in their collection? How did you handle cleaning?
>
> From what I've read, UV light exposure will kill the mold and won't
> necessarily harm the specimens unless exposed to UV light for an extensive
> period of time.
> Is ammonia the best way of cleaning specimens? Should we be using Ethanol
> or another solution for the specimens with visible mold growth?
>
> How would you wipe down/rid the bird skins of mold growing on them? Damp
> rag with ethanol? Cotton swabs?
>
>
> This is a brand new facility built in the last year. The humidity in the
> building ranges from 40-42% and the temperature is kept from 64-68 F. We
> put in dehumidifiers this week to try and drop the humidity even further
> and are considering an anti-fungal fogger. If anyone has had experience
> with any of these foggers, we'd appreciate your insight.
>
>
> Any/all advice would be appreciated.
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Ariel Gaffney
>
>
> ---
> Ariel M. Gaffney, M.Sc.
> Forensic Scientist / Ornithologist
> Office of Law Enforcement
> National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory
> 1490 E. Main Street
> Ashland, OR  97520
>
> phone:  541-488-6516
> fax: 541-482-4989​
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