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ErratumModern and classic approaches towards revealing the orbital mosaic in the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 (Soricidae, Lipotyphla, Mammalia) Volume 86 (2)

Chemical compounds such as arsenic, mercury and organochlorine pesticides have been extensively used as preventive and curative conservation treatments for cultural and biological collections to protect them from pest and mold infestations. Most of the aforementioned compounds have been classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic and represent a health risk for members of staff exposed to contaminated objects. The present study addresses the internal exposure of 28 museum employees in Museum für Naturkunde Berlin by measuring arsenic species and mercury in urine as well as hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4'-DDT) and its main metabolite, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4'-DDE), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in blood serum. This study was carried out in order to assess the internal exposure of Natural History Museum staff members to toxic metals and organochlorine pesticides. During a working week, two blood samples and five urine samples were taken from each participant, involving 8 women and 20 men. Information about work activity and exposure related factors such as dust development through work, use of personal protective equipment, as well as a nutrition diary were obtained through a questionnaire. Information on fish and seafood intakes as well as amalgam fillings was also available. The results of the study showed that the museum staff members had quantified concentrations of arsenic (median of 6.4 µg/l; maximum of 339 µg/l), mercury (median of 0.20 µg/l; max of 2.6 µg/l), β-HCH (median of 0.12 µg/l; max of 0.39 µg/l) and 4,4´-DDT (median of 0.050 µg/l; max of 0.82 µg/l). Despite that all the concentrations were below the established reference values, multivariate regression models were able to show that museum staff members are currently exposed to the aforementioned compounds while handling museum objects. To validate our findings, further studies are required.

In course of a survey of caprimulgiform birds (Steatornithidae, Podargidae, Nyctibiidae, Aegothelidae, and Caprimulgidae) held in the Museum fü r Naturkunde, Berlin a main focus was on the identification of type material. All specimens were examined for assessment of type status. Data contained on specimen labels were checked against the museum's registers and the existing literature. In order to confirm the status of types, original descriptions were consulted in each case. As a result, 26 specimens of 18 taxa within the families Podargidae, Nyctibidae and Caprimulgidae, were identified as types (of which 6 taxa are currently regarded as valid). Most of these types relate to taxa described by M. H. K. Lichtenstein and A. Reichenow and were collected by F.

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