An integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment: The case study of Michelozzo's Courtyard in Florence (Italy)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 408; no. 6; pp. 1403 - 1413
• Main Authors: Nava, S., Becherini, F., Bernardi, A., Bonazza, A., Chiari, M., García-Orellana, I., Lucarelli, F., Ludwig, N., Migliori, A., Sabbioni, C., Udisti, R., Valli, G., Vecchi, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.02.2010; [Amsterdam; New York]: Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air pollution; Air Pollution - prevention & control; air quality; analysis; Atmosphere; Atmosphere - chemistry; Atmospherics; Calcium; Calcium - analysis; Carbonaceous particles; case studies; chemistry; Confined environments; Confined Spaces; Conservation; Courtyards; Cultural heritage; Culture; dry deposition; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Florence; Italy; methods; Microclimate; Monitoring; Nitrogen Dioxide; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; Ozone; Ozone - analysis; Particulate Matter; Particulate Matter - analysis; prevention & control; Silicon; Silicon - analysis; Soiling; Sulfur; Sulfur - analysis; Thermography; Walls; Italy; Italy, Firenze; Cultural heritage; Soiling; Microclimate; Particulate matter; Carbonaceous particles; Thermography
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.07.030

An example of an integrated approach to assess air pollution threats to cultural heritage in a semi-confined environment is presented in this work, where the monitoring campaign carried out at the Michelozzo's Courtyard (in Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy) is used as a case study. A wide research project was carried out, with the main aim of obtaining the first quantitative data on air quality and microclimate conditions inside the Courtyard, and, if possible, identifying the main causes of degradation and suggesting appropriate conservation strategies. The investigation adopted a holistic approach involving thermographic measurements on the wall paintings, microclimatic analysis, gaseous pollutant monitoring, atmospheric particles characterisation and dry deposition compositional analysis. Attention was focused on the wall painting depicting the city of Hall because of its anomalous and critical conservation conditions, which are visible at a glance, due to the contrast between a wide darker zone around the central subject of the painting and external lighter areas.