Analysis of the Interior Microclimate in Art Nouveau Heritage Buildings for the Protection of Exhibits and Human Health

Alexandru Ilieș; Tudor Caciora; Florin Marcu; Zharas Berdenov; Gabriela Ilieș; Bahodirhon Safarov; Nicolaie Hodor; Vasile Grama; Maisa Ali Al Shomali; Dorina Camelia Ilies; Ovidiu Gaceu; Monica Costea; Damiannah Kieti

doi:10.3390/ijerph192416599

Analysis of the Interior Microclimate in Art Nouveau Heritage Buildings for the Protection of Exhibits and Human Health

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 10;19(24):16599. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192416599.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
² Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 Piata, 1 Decembrie Street, 410073 Oradea, Romania.
³ Faculty of Science, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2 Satpayev Street, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Sighetu Marmatiei Extension, 6 Avram Iancu Street, 435500 Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania.
⁵ Department of Digital Economy, Samarkand State University, Samarkand 140104, Uzbekistan.
⁶ Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-6 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
⁷ Faculty of Engineering, Al-Balqa Applied University, P.O. Box 15008, Marka 11134, Jordan.
⁸ Faculty of Environmental Protection, University of Oradea, Gen Magheru Street, 410048 Oradea, Romania.
⁹ School of Tourism, Hospitality & Events Management, Department of Tourism, Moi University, Kesses, Eldoret 3900-30100, Kenya.

Abstract

Poor air quality inside museums can have a double effect; on the one hand, influencing the integrity of the exhibits and on the other hand, endangering the health of employees and visitors. Both components can be very sensitive to the influence of the internal microclimate, therefore careful monitoring of the physical parameters and pollutants is required in order to maintain them within strict limits and thus to reduce the hazards that can be induced. The current study considers the determination and analysis of 15 indicators of the internal microclimate in an Art Nouveau museum built at the beginning of the 20th century in the Municipality of Oradea, Romania. The monitoring spanned a period of seven months, between September 2021 and March 2022, targeting three rooms of the museum with different characteristics and containing exhibits with a high degree of fragility. The results show that, although there are numerous indicators that have exceeded the thresholds induced by international standards, the possible negative impact on the exhibits and/or on human health remains moderate. This is due to the fact that, most of the time, exceeding the permitted limits are small or only sporadic, the values quickly returning to the permitted limits. Thus, only 22 of the 212 days of monitoring recorded marginal conditions regarding the quality of the indoor air, the rest having acceptable and good conditions. To improve the indoor conditions, a more careful management is needed, especially regarding the values of temperature, humidity, particulate matters, natural and artificial light, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and formaldehyde (HCHO), which during the measurements recorded high values that fluctuated in a wide spectrum. The obtained results can represent the basis for the development and implementation of long-term strategies for stabilizing the microclimatic conditions in the museum in order to preserve the exhibits preventively and to ensure a clean and safe environment for people.

Keywords: cultural heritage; human health; indoor air quality; museum microclimate; pollutants; preventive conservation; risk assessment.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Microclimate
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter

Grants and funding

We acknowledge a partial funding contribution from the University of Oradea Grants, Competition “Scientific Research of Excellence Related to Priority Areas with Capitalization through Technology Transfer: INO–TRANSFER–UO- Second edition”, Projects No. 232/28.10.2022. Title of the project—Reuse of textile waste in interior decorations.