[Nhcoll-l] [EXTERN] Re: question about polyethylene bag "tubing" for specimens

Fri Mar 8 02:26:49 EST 2024

Hi Laura,

another option I have spotted in the move preparations of the colleagues at the MfN in Berlin (Thomas and other may chip in) could be to build a palletised "temporary cabinet". In their case, they put the contaminated mounted birds into such an interim cabinet (see screenshot below). Specimens are fixed so that they can't move, the temporary cabinet allows efficient arrangement of specimens and facilitates easy monitoring.

Another option we are currently exploring to salvage a mineral collection from an "unsuited storage situation" - for putting it mildly - that contains hazardous objects is to box them in transparent Euro-boxes that are normed (60x40 cm) and standardised to fit on Euro-Paletts (120x80 cm).

When bagging-up a lot of shark fins in PE foil (guess this was 2mm), I was adding self-tailored silica-bags. John and Julianne were adding silica into transparent PE-boxes for rH-susceptical minerals, maybe John or Julianne can add a source for these cards. Would also support monitoring.

My two cents.

Hope this helps - and with all best wishes for your project!
Dirk

[cid:part1.osXRTj1s.r2vdpYda at leibniz-lib.de]
[cid:part2.Mbt0k4s3.98434piO at leibniz-lib.de]

Am 08.03.2024 um 01:32 schrieb Abraczinskas, Laura:
Greetings Andy,
Thank you so much!  I appreciate the information.  It seems a useful product, for a variety of reasons, and a better option than zip bags or pre-sized polyethylene bags.
Best,
Laura

Laura Abraczinskas
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections
Michigan State University Museum
409 West Circle Drive
East Lansing, Michigan  48824
USA

(517) 355-1290 (Office)

Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

From: Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu><mailto:abentley at ku.edu>
Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2024 7:18 PM
To: Abraczinskas, Laura <abraczi1 at msu.edu><mailto:abraczi1 at msu.edu>
Cc: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu<mailto:nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] question about polyethylene bag "tubing" for specimens

Laura

We have used this poly sheeting to store a number of our large gar heads in our dry collection long term and have not noticed any ill effects.  Depending on the humidity and temperature of the storage space you may get some condensation on the inside of the bags if not packaged in a dry environment.

Not sure that 2ml or 4ml would make much difference in that regard.  4ml may be a little more durable to puncture by spiny or rough objects so may be worth the investment.  We use the same material we use for packing loans so that we only have to order one kind and have a large stock of it.  We use the 4ml.

Andy
Sent from my iPad

On Mar 7, 2024, at 4:14 PM, Abraczinskas, Laura <abraczi1 at msu.edu<mailto:abraczi1 at msu.edu>> wrote:

Dear NHColl list members,
I am seeking advice about sealing specimens within polyethylene bag “tubing” for temporary storage during a collections move.  This is an example of the “tubing”, which is a roll of open-ended polyethylene bags that contents are sealed within by use of a heat sealing machine.  (We have a tabletop impulse sealer).
https://www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.uline.com/BL_200/Cleanroom-Poly-Tubing__;!!HXCxUKc!ymc0MDXRapx2VPSVPiw6BGJ90-vZ8WpkGYIMNJceBoheXyiFf1pKrMMTpCWM380kKGUzsfCzs0OS3XXVJw$>

The Michigan State University Museum is preparing for a temporary move of the dry vertebrate collections before a building-wide HVAC renovation project begins!  Specimens will be temporarily stored off site for about 18 months. Specimens will not be stored in their usual cabinets but packed into boxes or other containers and secured at an art storage facility with climate control.

We are wondering about use of this product for bird and mammal skins or taxidermy mounts, or other dry specimens. The vendor has asked that we bag and seal anything that may contain arsenic before it is housed at their facility.

We are thinking this might be good for pest management too, during the temporary storage.

Does anyone have thoughts about this idea?  If a go, would 4 mil polyethylene be recommended, rather than 2 mil?
If the Uline product is not appropriate, is there another recommended source?

Thanks so much!
Laura

Laura Abraczinskas
Pronouns: She, Her, Hers
Collections Manager, Vertebrate Collections
Michigan State University Museum
409 West Circle Drive
East Lansing, Michigan  48824
USA

(517) 355-1290 (Office)

Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary Lands of the Anishinaabeg–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on Land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

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Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels
Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts;
Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Grüter (Kaufm. Geschäftsführer)
Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
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