An interesting and informative article on this subject was published recently: Fleischer, S.V. 2010. What once saved my life may now take it. Identification, protection, and mitigation of health and safety hazards in medical history collections. Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archive Professionals 6(4):289-318 --John John E. Simmons Museologica 128 E. Burnside Street Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010 [log in to unmask] 303-681-5708 www.museologica.com and Adjunct Curator of Collections Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery Penn State University University Park, Pennsylvania and Lecturer in Art Juniata College Huntingdon, Pennsylvania On Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 10:35 AM, Laura Furman <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > We have had a large collection of pharmaceutical bottles that we have been > struggling with over the last several years. We have had a lot of trouble > determining how to safely dispose of them. Our local hospital put me touch > with a hazardous waste company that they use. Unfortunately, their price was > way too high for us. In the process of their quoting, however, they > identified three bottles that contained chemicals that become highly > combustible and shock sensitive when dried out. (Which they had become after > 80 years.) We worked with the local bomb squad to remove them! They were as > concerned about the chemical as the waste company had been and used the > occasion to get some training in with their robot.**** > > ** ** > > The bomb squad’s suggestion for the rest of the bottle we have to deal with > was to contact the Haz Mat unit at our local Fire Department. We have not > yet done that but will be in the coming year. We will want to work with them > to preserve the bottle for our collection while disposing of the contents. > Needless to say our policy going forward is that we will not accept bottles > with contents!**** > > ** ** > > Hope this helps,**** > > ** ** > > Laura B. Furman**** > > Curator of Collections**** > > Midway Village Museum**** > > 815-397-9112 x 108**** > > ** ** > > *From:* Victoria King [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 27, 2011 11:47 AM > *Subject:* Care for full medicinal bottles?**** > > ** ** > > I recently just acquired two medicinal bottles with original labels and > about half full of its original liquid. > Does anyone have any recommendation of how to care for the bottles, > specifically the labels and liquid? Should I dispose of the liquid? Are > there any special procedures to dispose of this liquid? **** > > **** > > Does anyone have any suggestions? Let me know if I need to explain any > further. **** > > > Thank you!**** > > **** > > Victoria**** > > ** ** > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 **** > > ------------------------------ > > To unsubscribe from the MUSEUM-L list, click the following link: > http://home.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=MUSEUM-L&A=1 > -- ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).