[Nhcoll-l] Mold in our bird collection

Wed Sep 16 03:42:07 EDT 2020

Hi Ariel,

concur with Rob; closed metal cabinets (compared to wooden ones - with 
different pros and cons) are perfect to trap and maintain unsuited 
microclimates. Damp material definitely is a source, unwanted RH and 
temperature fluctuations as they may occur in a new storage building 
during calibration of the new climate control systems could have been 
another potential source. Also any form of moisture released from the 
new building itself (e.g. from the concrete, walls, paint, etc.).

With best wishes
Dirk

Am 15.09.2020 um 23:16 schrieb Robert Waller:
>
> Hi Ariel,
>
> It seems extraordinary to have mold growth at the conditions you 
> mention (40-42%RH and 64-68°F).
>
> Can you be certain that wet or damp materials have not been placed 
> within the cabinets? In my experience a small amount of damp material 
> in a metal cabinet can raise the RH to 100% for days to weeks.
>
> Rob
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of 
> *ELLEN PEARLSTEIN
> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 15, 2020 4:29 PM
> *To:* Gaffney, Ariel M <ariel_gaffney at fws.gov>
> *Cc:* nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Mold in our bird collection
>
> 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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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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-- 

Dirk Neumann

Tel: 089 / 8107-111
Fax: 089 / 8107-300
neumann(a)snsb.de

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Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns
Zoologische Staatssammlung München
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---------

Dirk Neumann

Tel: +49-89-8107-111
Fax: +49-89-8107-300
neumann(a)snsb.de

postal address:

Bavarian Natural History Collections
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