CULTURAL HERITAGE AND AEROBIOLOGY

Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology Methods and Measurement Techniques for Biodeterioration Monitoring

Edited by

Paolo Mandrioli CNR-ISAC, Bologna, Italy

Giulia Caneva University of Roma 3, Rome, Italy

and

Cristina Sabbioni CNR-ISAC, Bologna, Italy

Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V.

A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

Front cover: Old hand-written parchment documents (1546-1560) from the Archiginnasio Library, Bologna. Photograph courtesy of Paolo Mandrioli

Translation and revision from "Aerobiologia e Beni Culturali", 1998, Nardini Editore, Firenze Text copyright for the Italian edition: © 1998, Associazione Italiana di Aerobiologia English language edition translated by Francesca Sofri; revision of translation by Marta Innocenti.

The translation of this book has been funded by

15 '~ E P 5 1 SEGRlTARIATO EUROPIO PER II PU!SUCAZIONI S<:IENlIFI<HE

Via Val d' Aposa 7 - 40123 Bologna - Italy Tel: +39051271992 Fax: +39051265983 e-mail: seps@alma.unibo.it - www.seps.it

Printed on acid-free paper ISBN 978-90-481-6423-3 ISBN 978-94-017-0185-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-0185-3 All Rights Reserved © 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2003. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2003 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.

Translation: Francesca Sofri Revision of translation: Marta Innocenti

The translation of this work has been funded by

I!5 E P!51 SEGRETARIA10 EUROPEO PER l.E PUBBUCAZIONI SCIENTIFIC HE

Via Val d'Aposa 7 - 40123 Bologna - Italy Tel: +39 051271992 Fax: +39 051265983 e-mail: seps@alma.unibo.it - web: www.seps.it

Contents

Contributors

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part 1. Introduction to Biodeterioration and Human Health

Xl

X 111

XIV

Chapter 1 ........................................................................................................ 3 The Biological Aerosol as a Factor ofBiodeterioration ................................. 3 1. Introduction ........................................................................................... 3

1.1 Biological Alteration Processes and Conditioning Factors ........... 3 1.2 Biodeterioration of Materials Forming Pieces

of Cultural Property ....................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Biodeterioration of Organic Materials ................................. 7

1.2.1.1 Paper ................................................................................ 7 1.2.1.2 Wood ............................................................................. 10 1.2.1.3 Textiles .......................................................................... 12 1.2.1.4 Parchment and Leather .................................................. 13 1.2.1.5 Paintings (Ground Layers and Pigments) ...................... 15 1.2.1.6 Plastics ........................................................................... 16

1.2.2 Biodeterioration of Inorganic Materials ............................. 18 1.2.2.1 Stone materials ............................................................... 19 1.2.2.2 Glass .............................................................................. 21 1.2.2.3 Metals ............................................................................ 22

1.3 Aerobiology Applied to Cultural Heritage .................................. 22 1.3.1 Biological Aerosol and Biodeterioration ........................... 22 1.3.2 Origin and Dispersion of Biological Matter in the Air ...... 23

Chapter 2 ...................................................................................................... 31 Pathogenic Microorganisms and Situations of Risk to Man ........................ 31 2. Introduction ......................................................................................... 31

2.1 Indoor Pollution and Effects on Human Health .......................... 31 2.2 Biological Pollution and Risk Situations ..................................... 37 2.3 Studies on the Quality of Air in Libraries and Archives ............. 41

Part 2. Environmental Measurements for Aerobiological Monitoring

Chapter 3 Measurement of Environmental Physical Parameters ........... . 3. Introduction .................................................................... .

3.1 Measurement of Physical Parameters ..... . 3.1. 1 Temperature ......................................... .

47 47 47 48 48

Vlll Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology

3.1.2 Moisture ............................................................................. 51 3.1.3 Air Movements .................................................................. 54 3.1.4 Light ................................................................................... 59

3.2 Measuring Methods ..................................................................... 64 3.2.1 Indoor Measurements ......................................................... 64 3.2.2 Outdoor Environment ........................................................ 66 3.2.3 Microclimatic Monitoring .................................................. 67 3.2.4 Data Processing .................................................................. 70

3.3 Influence of Physical Parameters on the Development of Organisms that Promote Biodeterioration ................................... 73

Chapter 4 ...................................................................................................... 81 Chemical Parameters and Development of Biodeteriogens ......................... 8 I 4. Introduction ......................................................................................... 81

4.1 Types of pollutants ...................................................................... 82 4.1.1 Inorganic compounds of atmospheric particulate .............. 84 4.1.2 Gaseous inorganic compounds ........................................... 85 4.1.3 Organic compounds ........................................................... 87

4.2 Pollutants Promoting the Growth of Microorganisms ................. 87 4.3 Growth-inhibiting pollutants ....................................................... 90

4.3.1 Types of Substrates ............................................................ 91 4.4 Detection of Pollutants ................................................................ 93

4.4.1 Active Methods .................................................................. 94 4.4.1.1 Liquid impingers ............................................................ 95 4.4.1.2 Denuders ........................................................................ 97

4.4.2 Passive Methods ................................................................. 97 4.5 Data Processing ......................................................................... 100

Part 3. Methods and Measurement Techniques for Aerobiological Monitoring

Chapter 5 .................................................................................................... 107 Monitoring the Biological Aerosol ............................................................ 107 5. Introduction ....................................................................................... 107

5.1 Principles of Atmospheric Dispersion of Particles .................... 110 5.1.1 Deposition ........................................................................ 110 5.1.2 Settling velocity ............................................................... 111 5.1.3 Density ............................................................................. 113 5.1.4 Coagulation ...................................................................... 113 5.1.5 Inlpact .............................................................................. 114 5.1.6 Deposition in Precipitations ............................................. 114

5.2 Sampling Principles ................................................................... 116 5.2.1 Gravitational Deposition .................................................. 118 5.2.2 lnlpact .............................................................................. 119 5.2.3 Suction ............................................................................. 119

Contents IX

5.2.4 Filtration ........................................................................... 120 5.2.5 Electrostatic Precipitation ................................................ 121 5.2.6 Thermal Precipitation ....................................................... 121 5.2.7 Impingement .................................................................... 121

5.3 Sampling Equipment.. ............................................................... 122 5.3.1 Deposition Samplers ........................................................ 122 5.3.2 Impaction Samplers .......................................................... 123 5.3.3 Liquid impingers .............................................................. 130

5.4 Strategy of Aerobiological Sampling Techniques ..................... 131 5.4.1 Choice of Aerobiological Monitoring Method ................ 135 5.4.2 Criteria for Indoor Aerobiological Monitoring ................ 136 5.4.3 Sampling Site ................................................................... 137 5.4.4 Timing and Duration of Sampling ................................... 138 5.4.5 Influence of Heating and Conditioning Systems ............. 139 5.4.6 Choice of Sampling Technique ........................................ 140

Chapter 6 .................................................................................................... 145 Analysis of the Biological Aerosol ............................................................ 145 6. Introduction ....................................................................................... 145

6.1 Methods for Analysis of Biological AerosoL .......................... 146 6.2 Bacteria and Actinomycetes ...................................................... 150

6.2.1 Ecological and Functional Characteristics ....................... 150 6.2.2 Autotrophic Bacteria ........................................................ 151 6.2.3 Heterotrophic Bacteria ..................................................... 152 6.2.4 Specific Analysis Methods ............................................... 154

6.3 Fungi ......................................................................................... 156 6.3.1 Ecological and Functional Characteristics ....................... 156 6.3.2 Specific Analysis Methods ............................................... 158

6.4 Cyanobacteria and Algae ........................................................... 159 6.4.1 Ecological and Functional Characteristics ....................... 159 6.4.2 Specific Analysis Methods ............................................... 160

6.5 Lichens ...................................................................................... 163 6.5.1 Ecological and Functional Characteristics ....................... 163 6.5.2 Specific Sampling Methods ............................................. 165

6.6 Higher Plants and Mosses ......................................................... 166 6.6.1 Ecological and Functional Characteristics ....................... 166 6.6.2 Specific Sampling Methods ............................................. 167

Part 4. Aerobiological Monitoring for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

Chapter 7 .................................................................................................... 175 Libraries and Archives ............................................................................... 175 7. Introduction ....................................................................................... 175

7.1 Specific Contexts ....................................................................... 175

x

7.1.1 7.1.1.1 7.1.1.2 7.1.1.3

7.1.2 7.1.2.1

Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology

Types of Environments and Their Climates ..................... 176 Types of Buildings ....................................................... 176 Remarks on microclimates .......................................... 177 Types of Shelves and their Microclimates ................... 179

Types of Materials and their Biodegradability ................. 181 Hygroscopicity of Materials and Biodeterioration Processes ..................................................................... 182

Biodeteriogens of Library and Archive Materials ............ 184 7.1.3 7.2 State of Researches of Aerobiology in Archives and Libraries. 187 7.3 Aerobiological Sampling in Libraries and Archives ................. 189

Chapter 8 .................................................................................................... 195 Museums .................................................................................................... 195 8. Introduction ....................................................................................... 195

8.1 Aspects to be Considered .......................................................... 195 8.1.1 Types of Museums ........................................................... 195

8.1.1.1 Types of Environments and Relevant Microclimates .. 196 8.1.1.2 Types of Exhibition ..................................................... 198

8.1.2 Types of Materials Preserved ........................................... 201 8.1.3 Biodeteriogens ................................................................. 201

8.2 State of Aerobiological Researches in Museums ...................... 203 8.3 Aerobiological Sampling in Museum Environments ................ 203

Chapter 9 .................................................................................................... 207 Churches and Hypogea .............................................................................. 207 9. Introduction ....................................................................................... 207

9.1 Types of Environments and their Microclimates ...................... 207 9.1.1 Churches .......................................................................... 207 9.1.2 Hypogea ........................................................................... 209

9.2 Types of Materials Preserved .................................................... 210 9.3 Biodeteriogens ........................................................................... 211 9.4 State of Aerobiological Research on Churches and Hypogea ... 217 9.5 Aerobiological Sampling in Churches and Hypogea ................ 221

Chapter 10 .................................................................................................. 225 Outdoor Environn1ents ............................................................................... 225 10. Introduction ................................................................................... 225

10.1 Specific Goals ........................................................................... 225 10.2 Types of Materials Exposed and Conditions of Exposure ........ 229 10.3 Biodeteriogens of Materials Used in Buildings ......................... 231

Index 235

Colour Plates ........ ............. 239

Contributors

Lorenzo Appolonia - Beni Archeologici e Paesaggistici, Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali, Regione Valle d'Aosta, Aosta

Carlo Cacace - Istituto Centrale per it Restauro, Roma Giulia Caneva - Dipartimento di Biologia Universita Roma Tre, Roma Paola De Nuntiis - Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Universita di

Urbino, Urbino Maria Augusta Favali - Dipartimento di Biologia Evolutiva e Funzionale,

Universita di Parma, Parma Fausta Gallo t Laboratorio di Biologia, Istituto Centrale di Patologia del

Libro, Roma Teodoro Georgiadis - Istituto di Scienze dell 'Atmosfera e del Clima,

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna Oriana Maggi - Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Universita "La

Sapienza", Roma Paolo Mandrioli - Istituto di Scienze dell 'Atmosfera e del Clima, Consiglio

Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna Oretta Micali - Azienda Sanitaria Locale, Viterbo Riccardo Montacutelli - Istituto di Igiene, Universita "La Sapienza", Roma Michela Monte - Istituto per la Conservazione e la Valorizzazione dei Beni

Clliturali, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma Maria Pia Nugari - Laboratorio di Biologia, Istituto Centrale per if

Restauro, Roma. Ettore Pacini - Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Sezione Botanica,

Universita di Siena, Siena Giovanna Pasquariello - Laboratorio di Biologia, IstitlltO Nazionale per la

Grafica, Roma. Rosanna Piervittori - Dipartimento di Biologia Vegetale, Universita di

Torino, Torino. Anna Maria Pietrini - Laboratorio di Biologia, IstitlltO Centrale per il

Restallro, Roma. Giancarlo Ranalli - Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agro-Alimentari,

Universita del Molise, Campobasso Sandra Ricci - Laboratorio di Biologia, Istituto Centrale per if Restallro,

Roma.

xu Contributors

Ada Roccardi - Laboratorio di Biologia, Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Roma

Cristina Sabbioni - Istituto di Scienze dell 'Atmosfera e del Clima, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna

Claudia Sorlini - Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Alimentari e Microbiologiche, Universita di Milano, Milano

Gianfranco Tarsitani - Dipartimento di Scienze di San ita Pubblica, Universita "La Sapienza ", Roma

Paola Valenti - Laboratorio di Biologia, Istituto Centrale di Patologia del Libra, Roma.

t Fausta Gallo passed away before this book was printed

Preface

Aerobiology is the science that studies the biological component of the atmosphere and its effects on living systems and on the environment.

This term was used for the first time in 1935, but the attention of scientists to the biological component of the atmosphere goes back to 1769, when the Italian biologist Spallanzani carried out a series of experiments that disproved the concept of spontaneous generation of life and proved the presence of viable microorganisms in the air. Aerobiology has marked characteristics of interdisciplinarity: its application fields range from respiratory diseases to the airborne outbreak of animal and vegetal diseases and to the biodegradation of substances and materials. The latter is the subject of this book. The purpose of aerobiological research applied to the conservation of cultural heritage is to evaluate the risk of alteration by airborne microorganisms of materials forming artefacts of historical, artistic and archaeological interest. Airborne spores and vegetative structures may develop on different substrates and may be a cause of degradation, in relation to the types of materials, the microclimatic situation and the pollution of the conservation environments. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the biological component of air, performed by means of targeted analysis campaigns, and of the characteristics of materials and environments, supplies indispensable information for the evaluation of the actual risk and the planning of interventions.

This book is divided into four main parts. The first part considers the aspects of biodeterioration of materials and biological risk in indoor environments, in order to explain the motives of an aerobiological campaign. The second part describes the methods for measuring environmental parameters in view of aerobiological monitoring, considering both physical parameters (particularly those relevant to microclimatic analysis) and chemical ones (particularly those relevant to the analysis of pollutants). The third part elucidates the methods and techniques of aerobiological monitoring, starting from general sampling principles and instruments and ending with airborne microflora analysis methods that are specific for each taxonomic group. The last part deals with the specific problems of each type of environment where aerobiological monitoring may be carried out. On the basis of a certain similarity of materials and problems, these environments

XIV Preface

are divided into libraries and archives; museums; churches and hypogea; and outdoor environments.

This book was written by Italian experts working in the field of the conservation of cultural heritage and members of the Cultural Heritage Working Group, Italian Association of Aerobiology.

Paolo Mandrioli, Giulia Caneva and Cristina Sabbioni

Acknowledgments

The editors are extremely grateful to the authors and the publishers, especially Paul Roos and Betty van Herk of Kluwer Academic Publishers, for their patience and perseverance.

Our heartfelt gratitude to Chiara Segafredo of SEPS for the enthusiasm with which she supported the English translation of this book. We are indebted to Anna Mandrioli and Maria Grazia Negrini for their encouragement and assistance. We also thank Alessandra Bonazza, Nadia Ghedini, Stefano Parisini and Cristina Vitali for the fruitful discussion and comments.