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Abstract Biological activity, climate and pollution are responsible for the degradation of building stones, especially limestone, which is widely used in the Paris region. In order to determine the respective contribution of physicochemical and biological processes to the degradation of limestone, limestone specimens from the Père-Lachaise cemetery (Paris, France) were exposed for five years under different conditions: sheltered from or exposed to rain and in horizontal or vertical position. After exposure, the collected samples were characterized by light and electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction and ion chromatography after elution. The results showed an intense biocolonization of the samples exposed to rain, while the sheltered samples were more affected by the pollution (soiling). The characterization of the bacterial and fungal communities using Next Generation Sequencing Illumina 16S for bacteria and ITS for fungi highlighted that five main bacterial phyla were identified: Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidota, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria and Deinococcota (major genera Flavobacterium, Methylobacterium-Methylobacter, Sphingomonas, Roseomonas and Nocardiodes). Among the fungi, the phylum Ascomycota was predominant with the genera Cladosporium, Ramularia, Aureobasidium and Lecania. However, the alteration of the limestone is difficult to quantify at this stage. Potassium nitrate of rain origin has been found in the sheltered area, but no gypsum. Therefore, the biocolonization is a fast phenomenon on the stone and the physico-chemical processes derived from it, caused by climate and pollution, are slower. This is in agreement with the long-term observations made on old and unrestored graves of the cemetery described in the literature.

Abstract Stained glass windows are a precious heritage to pass on to future generations. However, medieval stained glass windows are particularly altered due to their chemical composition and the effects of climatic (mainly water and temperature), environmental (pollution) and biological factors. In this review, we present the alteration patterns observed on ancient Si-K-Ca stained glass windows. To better understand their formation mechanisms and determine the alteration rates, different exposure campaigns to the current atmosphere in a position sheltered from rain or not and laboratory experiments in aqueous medium or in gaseous phase have been conducted. Either model glass or ancient stained glass windows were studied. Isotopic tracers (D, 18O, 29Si) have been used as they constitute a powerful tool to elucidate the involved processes and to measure their kinetics. Thanks to all of these data, an alteration scenario of medieval stained glass alteration is proposed. Besides, the extrapolation of kinetic data based on several hypotheses over seven centuries gives very consistent results compared to the ancient stained glass samples.

Abstract This work aims to investigate the role played by a model Mn-oxidizing bacterial strain and its exudates on the alteration of Mn-bearing potash-lime silicate glasses representative of medieval stained glass windows. Two model glasses, with or without manganese, were prepared and used for abiotic and Pseudomonas putida inoculated dissolution experiments. Results show that the presence of P. putida slows down the dissolution kinetics while changing the dissolution stoichiometry. In biotic experiments, the acidification of the solution at the beginning of the experiment favors the release of K. After a few days, a drop in Mn and P in solution is observed, retained by bacterial cells. Reciprocally, the amount of glass influences bacterial behavior. The more glass, the faster the bacterial population increases in size and produces siderophore. In the presence of the Mn-bearing glass, siderophore production is followed by the formation of brown phases, identified as Mn oxides.

Most stained-glass windows installed during the Middle Ages have deteriorated over time due to climate and pollution. To reconstruct their alteration history over the centuries, evaluate the current environmental risk, and predict their alteration in the future, two modelling methodologies have been used. First, based on the short-term exposure of medieval-type glass in different sites, dose–response functions (DRFs) were established. These DRFs correlate relevant environmental factors (temperature, rain quantity, rain pH, relative humidity, and SO2 concentration) with the response of the material in terms of alteration layer thickness. The second methodology consists of laboratory experiments that aim at parametrising kinetic laws as a function of specific parameters (temperature, rain pH, and relative humidity). These kinetic laws can be extrapolated over long periods, contrary to DRFs. In this study, we compared both methodologies to simulate the alteration of a model stained glass at different European sites or over different time periods. The results highlighted that the kinetic laws were able to closely represent the data, except for the polluted sites where the alteration was underestimated. This indicated that the dependence of the alteration rate on the pollutant concentrations should be included to improve the model.

Buildings and monuments are often colonized by microorganisms that can result in colour change and aesthetical and physico-chemical damages. This bio-colonization is dependent of the material and on the environment. In order to better understand and correlate the microbial development at the surface of buildings with meteorological parameters, concentration of green algae and cyanobacteria have been measured using an in situ instrument on the wall of a private habitation in the Parisian region during two periods: spring and fall-winter. Different locations were also chosen to assess the influence of the position (horizontal or vertical) and of the situation (shaded vs. sunny microclimate). The results show that the microorganism development rapidly responds to rainfall events but the response is more intense in winter as temperature is lower and relative humidity (RH) higher. Cyanobacteria are less sensitive to this seasonal effect as they are more resistant to desiccation than green algae. Based on all the data, different dose-response functions have been established to correlate RH, rain and temperature to the green algae concentration. The influence of the microclimate is considered via specific fitting parameters. This approach has to be extended to new campaign measurements but could be very useful to anticipate the effect of climate change.

Limestone buildings in urban areas are weathered due to climatic factors, to pollution but also to biological activity. Many studies have focused on microbially-mediated precipitation of calcite but few on their influence on limestone dissolution rates. In this study, a cultivable approach for studying bacterial dissolution of limestone is proposed. The results show, for the first time, that limestone has selected a specific structure in the bacterial communities and that each bacterial class has its own metabolism inducing a different efficiency on the alteration of limestone grains. Cultivable bacterial and fungal strains in our study permit to considerably increase (by 100 to 1,000,000 times) the chemical weathering rates compared to laboratory or field experiments. Individually, the results bring information on the ability to alter limestone by dissolution. Moreover, taken together, a functional ecological adaptation of bacterial and fungal classes to the alteration of the limestone monument has been highlighted. In order to release calcium into solution, these strains slightly acidify the medium and produce low molecular mass organic acids during experiments, especially lactic and oxalic acids.

Stained glass windows are a precious heritage to pass on to future generations. However, medieval stained glass windows are particularly altered due to their chemical composition and the effects of climatic (mainly water and temperature), environmental (pollution) and biological factors. In this review, we present the alteration patterns observed on ancient Si-K-Ca stained glass windows. To better understand their formation mechanisms and determine the alteration rates, different exposure campaigns to the current atmosphere in a position sheltered from rain or not and laboratory experiments in aqueous medium or in gaseous phase have been conducted. Either model glass or ancient stained glass windows were studied. Isotopic tracers (D, 18O, 29Si) have been used as they constitute a powerful tool to elucidate the involved processes and to measure their kinetics. Thanks to all of these data, an alteration scenario of medieval stained glass alteration is proposed. Besides, the extrapolation of kinetic data based on several hypotheses over seven centuries gives very consistent results compared to the ancient stained glass samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limestone buildings in urban areas are weathered due to climatic factors, to pollution but also to biological activity. Many studies have focused on microbially-mediated precipitation of calcite but few on their influence on limestone dissolution rates. In this study, a cultivable approach for studying bacterial dissolution of limestone is proposed. The results show, for the first time, that limestone has selected a specific structure in the bacterial communities and that each bacterial class has its own metabolism inducing a different efficiency on the alteration of limestone grains. Cultivable bacterial and fungal strains in our study permit to considerably increase (by 100 to 1,000,000 times) the chemical weathering rates compared to laboratory or field experiments. Individually, the results bring information on the ability to alter limestone by dissolution. Moreover, taken together, a functional ecological adaptation of bacterial and fungal classes to the alteration of the limestone monument has been highlighted. In order to release calcium into solution, these strains slightly acidify the medium and produce low molecular mass organic acids during experiments, especially lactic and oxalic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports estimated maintenance-cleaning costs, cost savings and cleaning interval increases for structural surfaces and windows in Europe obtainable by reducing the air pollution. Methodology and data from the ICP-materials project were used. The average present (2018) cleaning costs for sheltered white painted steel surfaces and modern glass due to air pollution over background, was estimated to be ~2.5 Euro/m2∙year. Hypothetical 50% reduction in the air pollution was found to give savings in these cleaning costs of ~1.5 Euro/m2∙year. Observed reduction in the air pollution, from 2002–2005 until 2011–2014, have probably increased the cleaning interval for white painted steel with ~100% (from 12 to 24 years), representing reductions in the single intervention cleaning costs from 7 to 4%/year (= % of one cleaning investment, per year during the cleaning interval) and for the modern glass with ~65% (from 0.85 to 1.3 years), representing reductions in the cleaning cost from 124 to 95%/year. The cleaning cost reductions, obtainable by 50% reduction in air pollution, would have been ~3 %/year for white painted steel and ~60%/year for the modern glass, representing ~100 and 50% additional cleaning interval increases. These potential cleaning cost savings are significantly higher than previously reported for the weathering of Portland limestone ornament and zinc monuments.

Buildings and monuments are often colonized by microorganisms that can result in colour change and aesthetical and physico-chemical damages. This bio-colonization is dependent of the material and on the environment. In order to better understand and correlate the microbial development at the surface of buildings with meteorological parameters, concentration of green algae and cyanobacteria have been measured using an in situ instrument on the wall of a private habitation in the Parisian region during two periods: spring and fall-winter. Different locations were also chosen to assess the influence of the position (horizontal or vertical) and of the situation (shaded vs. sunny microclimate). The results show that the microorganism development rapidly responds to rainfall events but the response is more intense in winter as temperature is lower and relative humidity (RH) higher. Cyanobacteria are less sensitive to this seasonal effect as they are more resistant to desiccation than green algae. Based on all the data, different dose-response functions have been established to correlate RH, rain and temperature to the green algae concentration. The influence of the microclimate is considered via specific fitting parameters. This approach has to be extended to new campaign measurements but could be very useful to anticipate the effect of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most stained-glass windows installed during the Middle Ages have deteriorated over time due to climate and pollution. To reconstruct their alteration history over the centuries, evaluate the current environmental risk, and predict their alteration in the future, two modelling methodologies have been used. First, based on the short-term exposure of medieval-type glass in different sites, dose–response functions (DRFs) were established. These DRFs correlate relevant environmental factors (temperature, rain quantity, rain pH, relative humidity, and SO2 concentration) with the response of the material in terms of alteration layer thickness. The second methodology consists of laboratory experiments that aim at parametrising kinetic laws as a function of specific parameters (temperature, rain pH, and relative humidity). These kinetic laws can be extrapolated over long periods, contrary to DRFs. In this study, we compared both methodologies to simulate the alteration of a model stained glass at different European sites or over different time periods. The results highlighted that the kinetic laws were able to closely represent the data, except for the polluted sites where the alteration was underestimated. This indicated that the dependence of the alteration rate on the pollutant concentrations should be included to improve the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from the international cooperative programme on effects on materials including historic and cultural monuments are presented from the period 1987–2014 and include pollution data (SO2, NO2, O3, HNO3 and PM10), corrosion data (carbon steel, weathering steel, zinc, copper, aluminium and limestone) and data on the soiling of modern glass for nineteen industrial, urban and rural test sites in Europe. Both one-year and four-year corrosion data are presented. Corrosion and pollution have decreased significantly and a shift in the magnitude is generally observed around 1997: from a sharp decrease to a more modest decrease or to a constant level without any decrease. SO2 levels, carbon steel and copper corrosion have decreased even after 1997, which is more pronounced in urban areas, while corrosion of the other materials shows no decrease after 1997, when looking at one-year values. When looking at four-year values, however, there is a significant decrease after 1997 for zinc, which is not evident when looking at the one-year values. This paper also presents results on corrosion kinetics by comparison of one- and four-year values. For carbon steel and copper, kinetics is relatively independent of sites while other materials, especially zinc, show substantial variation in kinetics for the first four years, which needs to be considered when producing new and possibly improved models for corrosion.

Results from the international cooperative programme on effects on materials including historic and cultural monuments are presented from the period 1987-2014 and include pollution data (SO2, NO2, O3, HNO3 and PM10), corrosion data (carbon steel, weathering steel, zinc, copper, aluminium and limestone) and data on the soiling of modern glass for nineteen industrial, urban and rural test sites in Europe. Both one-year and four-year corrosion data are presented. Corrosion and pollution have decreased significantly and a shift in the magnitude is generally observed around 1997: from a sharp decrease to a more modest decrease or to a constant level without any decrease. SO2 levels, carbon steel and copper corrosion have decreased even after 1997, which is more pronounced in urban areas, while corrosion of the other materials shows no decrease after 1997, when looking at one-year values. When looking at four-year values, however, there is a significant decrease after 1997 for zinc, which is not evident when looking at the one-year values. This paper also presents results on corrosion kinetics by comparison of one- and four-year values. For carbon steel and copper, kinetics is relatively independent of sites while other materials, especially zinc, show substantial variation in kinetics for the first four years, which needs to be considered when producing new and possibly improved models for corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to understand glass alteration mechanisms and to determine their associated kinetics in order to develop models able to predict the alteration of nuclear, basaltic or archaeological glasses. Recent studies revealed that the respective contributions of diffusion, dissolution, condensation and precipitation processes in alteration are still a matter for debate. In this work, the alteration of a medieval-type glass (Si–K–Ca) was investigated as it presents a specific composition (without B and with low Al). Experiments were performed using a dynamic device, at 30 °C, at pH 8 and 9 and during 1 month in order to simulate alteration in contact with water (rainfall or condensation). The solution was doped in 29 Si to discriminate between the silicon from glass (mainly 28 Si) and from solution. The results showed that the external region of the alteration layer is devoid of modifier cations (K, Ca) and presents a 29 Si/ 28 Si ratio close to the solution one. This excludes that the alteration layer is a glass skeleton and highlights a progressive hydrolysis/condensation process, even if non-hydrolyzed silica tetrahedra could remain when the Si isotopic equilibrium is not reached. The internal zone appears to be gradually depleted in modifier cations and partly enriched in 29 Si, but the thickness of this zone is overestimated using SEM-EDS and SIMS techniques. Even if in these experiments the dissolution mechanism is favored, the contribution of interdiffusion cannot be neglected to explain the weathering of ancient stained glassed windows in the atmosphere. The respective contribution of diffusion and dissolution are also discussed as a function of glass composition and surface texture, as well as of experimental conditions (alkaline pH, renewal of the solution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Li isotope signatures of hydrothermal fluids are remarkably constant ( δ Li 7 = 8.0 ± 1.9 ‰ ) irrespective of the water/rock ratio ( W / R ), permeability, temperature or fluid involved (seawater or meteoric). High temperature hydrothermal fluids represent the second most significant source of Li to the ocean, yet the homogeneity of the Li isotopic signatures of this source remains to be explained and in this context, the lack of data for the corresponding altered phases is problematic. We measured Li contents and Li isotope signatures (as well as mineralogy, composition and local fluid temperature) in hyaloclastites collected from a borehole in the Hellisheidi geothermal system (Iceland) which have been altered by high temperature aqueous fluids (from 170 to 300 °C). Li is more enriched in the solid phases than the other alkali metals, highlighting its greater ability to be incorporated into secondary phases, especially at high temperatures (>250 °C). Mass balance calculations show that the low Li concentrations in hydrothermal fluids are best explained by a high water/rock ratio and a high permeability of this system. The Li isotopic signature of the altered hyaloclastites ( δ Li 7 between +1.9 and + 4.0 ‰ ) remains close to the fresh basalt at deep levels and high temperatures (290–300 °C) (as measured δ Li 7 range between +3.7 and + 4.0 ‰ ), and decreases at shallower depths and lower temperatures (150–270 °C) ( δ Li 7 between +1.9 and + 3.1 ‰ ). A mass balance model involving basalt dissolution, secondary phase formation, and successive isotope equilibrium during the migration and the cooling of the percolating fluid was developed. The corresponding apparent mineral-fluid Li isotope fractionation factors resulting from precipitation of secondary phases ( Δ Li minerals - fluid 7 ) range between 0‰ at 300 °C and − 8.5 ‰ at 170 °C and highlight a key role of chlorite. Applying the same approach to mid-ridge oceanic hydrothermal systems allows the relatively homogeneous isotope signatures of high temperature fluids of various locations to be explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Soiling results from the deposition of pollutants on materials. On glass, it leads to an alteration of its intrinsic optical properties. The nature and intensity of this phenomenon mirrors the pollution of an environment. This paper proposes a new statistical model in order to predict the evolution of haze (H) (i.e. diffuse/direct transmitted light ratio) as a function of time and major pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere (SO2, NO2, and PM10 (Particulate Matter<10μm)). The model was parameterized by using a large set of data collected in European cities (especially, Paris and its suburbs, Athens, Krakow, Prague, and Rome) during field exposure campaigns (French, European, and international programs). This statistical model, called NEUROPT-Glass, comes from an artificial neural network with two hidden layers and uses a non-linear parametric regression named Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). The results display a high determination coefficient (R 2 =0.88) between the measured and the predicted hazes and minimizes the dispersion of data compared to existing multilinear dose–response functions. Therefore, this model can be used with a great confidence in order to predict the soiling of glass as a function of time in world cities with different levels of pollution or to assess the effect of pollution reduction policies on glass soiling problems in urban environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To better understand glass alteration mechanisms, especially alteration layers formation, leaching experiments of a borosilicate glass (SON68) doped with a different rare earth element (La, Ce, or Nd) with solutions rich in 29Si and 18O were carried out. The coupled analyses of glass, alteration products, and solution led to a complete elemental and isotopic (29Si and 18O) budget. They revealed different behaviours of elements that depend not only on their structural role in the glass, but also on their affinity for alteration products (gel, phyllosilicates, phosphates). However, analyses of both glass and solution are not sufficient to describe the real exchanges occurring between glass and solution. The use of 29Si and 18O tracers gives new insights on the formation of alteration layers. During alteration the phyllosilicates records the isotopic variations of the leaching solution. Their isotopic signatures highlight a mechanism of dissolution/precipitation, which implies equilibrium between the secondary phases and the solution. On the other hand the gel isotopic signature, that is intermediate between the glass and the solution, substantiates the hypothesis that the gel is formed by hydrolysis/condensation reactions. This mechanism can thus explain the influence of the gel formation conditions (alteration conditions, solution saturation) on the structure (reorganisation) and texture (porosity) of this layer and on its protective effect. These hydrolysis/condensation reactions are also certainly involved in the aluminosilicate glass alteration and in the formation of palagonite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While the IUFM (University Institutes for Teachers' Training) are going to become part of universities, this article questions one of the bases validating the teachers' training: the professional report. This assessment concerns exercising teachers in having a critical mind towards their practical experience, because its purpose is to prepare teachers to adapt to the different types of pupils they are going to teach. This is the reason why the Government can only define this assessment briefly, even if they want to have better control over the teachers' training. To be precise concerning this assessment, the Government has to trust the teachers' trainers' control and the latter are only lightly encouraged. Despite the positive opinion expressed by specialists, this assessment could disappear because the Government favours a training efficient in a short-term period and ignores the analyses which would take long-term needs into account... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports estimated maintenance-cleaning costs, cost savings and cleaning interval increases for structural surfaces and windows in Europe obtainable by reducing the air pollution. Methodology and data from the ICP-materials project were used. The average present (2018) cleaning costs for sheltered white painted steel surfaces and modern glass due to air pollution over background, was estimated to be ~2.5 Euro/m2∙year. Hypothetical 50% reduction in the air pollution was found to give savings in these cleaning costs of ~1.5 Euro/m2∙year. Observed reduction in the air pollution, from 2002–2005 until 2011–2014, have probably increased the cleaning interval for white painted steel with ~100% (from 12 to 24 years), representing reductions in the single intervention cleaning costs from 7 to 4%/year (= % of one cleaning investment, per year during the cleaning interval) and for the modern glass with ~65% (from 0.85 to 1.3 years), representing reductions in the cleaning cost from 124 to 95%/year. The cleaning cost reductions, obtainable by 50% reduction in air pollution, would have been ~3 %/year for white painted steel and ~60%/year for the modern glass, representing ~100 and 50% additional cleaning interval increases. These potential cleaning cost savings are significantly higher than previously reported for the weathering of Portland limestone ornament and zinc monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The browning phenomenon is a pathology affecting Mn-bearing medieval stained-glass-windows in potash-lime-silicate glass system. In order to unravel the potential implication of microorganisms in the appearance of this pathology, three model glasses respectively containing no MnO, 1 wt% and 2 wt% MnO were altered at circumneutral pH, with and without organic exudates (oxalic acid (OA) 1000 μM and siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) 50–1000 μM) likely to be produced by bacteria and fungi. In the absence of exudates, the dissolution rates are inversely dependent on the Mn content of the glasses (0.8, 0.5 and 0.4 g m−2d−1 respectively for no MnO, 1 wt% and 2 wt% MnO glasses). In contact with exudates, an opposite trend is observed. The prevalent mechanisms are interpreted as a strong ligand-promoted dissolution for DFOB (dissolution rate increase up to 270%) and a dominant proton-promoted dissolution for OA (dissolution rate increase up to 60%). When DFOB and OA are added together, the effect of DFOB on the dissolution rate is prevailing, while OA effect is tangible on the stoichiometry of the dissolution of the alteration. These results suggest that an indirect biological activity could be involved in the mobilization of Mn from a Mn-bearing glass, thus playing a role in the appearance of the browning phenomenon. • In water, a Mn-bearing glass has a lower dissolution rate than a Mn-free glass. • The Mn-bearing glass dissolution is more affected by the addition of microbial exudates. • The DFOB siderophore has a stronger effect than the oxalic acid on the dissolution. • The dissolution rates increase when the concentration of DFOB increases. • No synergistic effect was observed on dissolution rates when both exudates were added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better constrain the geochemical budget of Si in the ocean, and potentially other elements released by the dissolution of silicates, the alteration of riverine particulate material in estuaries and seawater needs to be estimated. For this, a series of alteration experiments of basaltic glass were performed at various degrees of salinity (from 0 to 3.5 g L −1 ) in far-from-equilibrium conditions. The solution used is a filtered natural seawater standard from the Atlantic Ocean. The forward dissolution rates increase from 2.1 ⋅ 10 − 7 mol Si m − 2 s − 1 ( S = 0 g L − 1 ) to 7.7 ⋅ 10 − 7 mol Si m − 2 s − 1 ( S = 3.5 g L − 1 ) at 90 °C and were extrapolated at 16 °C (from 2.9 ⋅ 10 − 10 mol Si m − 2 s − 1 at S = 0 g L − 1 to 1.1 ⋅ 10 − 9 mol Si m − 2 s − 1 at S = 3.5 g L − 1 ). This positive relationship between glass dissolution rate and salinity degree is consistent with published investigations concerning the role of specific cations and ligands present in seawater, which can promote dissolution at the glass surface. These results illustrate the potential of river basaltic glass particles to dissolve quickly in the water column after entering into the brackish waters of estuaries, and before sinking on continental margins. Based on these dissolution rates and on assumptions on the particulate solid flux of fresh basaltic glass exported by rivers towards the ocean, the corresponding flux of dissolved Si is estimated to range between 2 and 8 ⋅ 10 12 mol Si yr − 1 . This is of the same order of magnitude as the estimated river dissolved Si flux, which represents therefore a significant input of Si into the ocean. Additionally, if the glass dissolution process remains congruent during the residence time of suspended particles into the water column, the K flux to the ocean could also be significantly affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] New findings on long term atmospheric corrosion of medieval stained glasses. [•] Use of model and ancient stained glass altered in real atmospheric conditions. [•] Multiscale study (SEM+TEM) of short and long terms alteration layers. [•] Refining of atmospheric corrosion mechanisms of stained glass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to explore the role of bacteria in the alteration of stained glass windows, and especially on the browning phenomenon, it is necessary to have an overview of the microbial inhabitants likely to be found on this kind of material. In this study, biological samples were collected on stained glass of different colours, both on site and stored in a conservation workshop. Cultivable bacterial communities were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Similarity values ranged from 99 to 100% to known bacteria. Sequence analysis showed different bacterial communities depending on the sampling site. The more represented genera were Arthrobacter, Micrococcus, Paenibacillus and Bacillus. Some of the identified bacteria are known for their weathering potential. • Microbiological samples were collected on stained glass from 4 French sites. • Bacterial diversity was observed depending on the sampling site. • Geographical, internal/external exposure, and glass composition might have an impact on bacterial diversity. • Some of the identified bacteria have weathering potential. • Arthrobacter crystallopoietes was associated to murrey glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alteration of “Saint-Maximin Roche fine” limestones exposed to the Parisian urban environment during more than 60 years has been studied. It leads to changes of the texture and morphology, to the neo-formation of gypsum on the subsurface and to the deposition of carbon containing phases on the surface. Depending on the location of the blocks on the monuments, the alteration states are different related to different water activities that could influence the further alteration processes. The multiscale characterization has enabled to correlate the macrometric properties to the mesoscopic behavior, what is essential to understand the alteration mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the role of micro-organisms and their siderophores in the first steps of the alteration processes of basaltic glasses in aqueous media. In this regard, three different types of glasses – with or without iron, in the reduced Fe(II) or oxidized Fe(III) states – were prepared on the basis of a simplified basaltic glass composition. Control and Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculated experiments were performed in a buffered (pH 6.5) nutrient depleted medium to stimulate the production of the pyoverdine siderophore. Results show that the presence of P. aeruginosa has an effect on the dissolution kinetics of all glasses as most of the calculated elemental release rates are increased compared to sterile conditions. Reciprocally, the composition of the glass in contact with P. aeruginosa has an impact on the bacterial growth and siderophore production. As an essential nutrient for this microbial strain, Fe notably appears to play a central role during biotic experiments. Its presence in the glass stimulates the bacterial growth and minimizes the synthesis of pyoverdine. Moreover the initial Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio in the glasses modulates this synthesis, as pyoverdine is not detected at all in the system in contact with Fe(III)-bearing glass. Finally, the dissolution rates appear to be correlated to siderophore concentrations as they increase with respect to sterile experiments in the order Fe(III)-bearing glass < Fe(II)-bearing glass < Fe-free glass. This increase is attributed to complexation reactions between siderophores and Fe or Al for Fe(II)-bearing glass or Fe-free glass, respectively. The dissolution of an Fe-free glass is significantly improved in the presence of bacteria, as initial dissolution rates are increased by a factor of 3. This study attests to the essential role of siderophores in the P. aeruginosa -promoted dissolution processes of basaltic glasses as well as to the complex relationships between the nutritional potential of the glass and its dissolution rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]