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Cultural heritage constitutive materials can provide excellent substrates for microbial colonisation, highly influenced by thermo-hygrometric parameters. In cultural heritage-related environments, a detrimental microbial load may be present both on artworks surface and in the aerosol. Confined environments (museums, archives, deposits, caves, hypogea) are characterised by peculiarstructures and different thermo-hygrometric conditions, influencing the development of a wide range of microbial species, able to induce artefact biodeterioration and to release biological particles in the aerosol (spores, cellular debrides, toxins, allergens) potentially dangerous for the human health (visitors/users). In order to identify the real composition of the biological consortia, highlighting also the symbiotic relationships between microorganisms (cyanobacteria, bacteria, fungi) and macro-organisms (plants, bryophyte, insects), an interdisciplinary approach is needed. The results from in vitro culture, microscopy and molecular biology analysis are essential for a complete understanding of both microbial colonisation of the cultural objects and the potential relationship with illness to human. Concerning the bioaerosol, of crucial importance are the time and techniques for sampling.

Patrimonio storico e artistico - 03.9 Tecnologie e restauro

Air pollution is the major responsible for the formation of damage layers on stone monuments and historic buildings in urban areas (Bonazza and Sabbioni, 2016). Among widely used building materials, marble and limestone were selected in previous studies on pollution impact, thanks to their chemical homogeneity (mainly composed by calcium carbonate) and low porosity. The effects of pollution have been heretofore assessed by analyzing samples collected from historic buildings or performing tests in simulation chamber and/or in field but gaps still remain in measuring deposition fluxes on materials and developing proper tools for long-term management of cultural heritage. Moreover, the possible effects on built heritage of the current atmosphere poorer than in the past of SO2 but richer of NOx and organic compounds (mainly released by vehicular traffic) should be considered. Field exposure tests with model samples are currently under execution in Italian cities characterized by different environmental conditions as a non invasive methodological approach for studying the impact of urban pollution on carbonate stones. The methodological approach selected for this investigation as well as first available results are here discussed. Marble (Carrara Marble) and limestone (Red Verona Marble) were selected as model samples as they were widely used as construction and ornamental elements in historic Italian architecture. They will be exposed at least for 2 years in Bologna, Ferrara, and Florence. Preference for samples exposure were given to sites located outdoor, partially sheltered from the rain wash-out, in areas strongly affected by pollution due to vehicular traffic. Galvanized metallic racks was prepared to host samples with different exposure orientations: horizontal, oblique (tilted with 45° slope) and vertical, in order to identify how positioning may reflect on deposition and removal of pollutants. The exposed samples will undergo mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical analyses (Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Ion Chromatography analysis and Thermal-chemical methodology using a CHNSO combustion analyzer (Ghedini et al., 2006)) at predefined time intervals to characterise the products derived from pollutants-stone interaction in terms of typology, origin and impact on stone. Moreover, the integration with colorimetric analysis will allow to identify a connection between the deposited soluble and carbon fractions and changes of colorimetric parameters, for setting up damage functions. Simultaneously passive sampling of aerosol has been designed by the exposure of filters while seasonal environmental monitoring campaigns of particulate matter will allow to compare the quantity of soluble ions and carbon fractions present into atmosphere with that actually accumulated on samples surface. Additionally, monitoring campaigns of bioaerosol has been planned in Bologna in order to quantify the microbial load (fungi and bacteria) in air. Data of environmental monitoring campaigns as well as results of analyses carried out after the first year of exposure will be also reported. References Bonazza A. and Sabbioni C., 2016. Composition and Chemistry of Crusts on Stone, in Brimblecombe P. (Ed.), Urban Pollution and Changes to Materials and Building Surfaces, Imperial College Press, Singapore, 103-126. Ghedini N., Sabbioni C., Bonazza A. and Gobbi G., Chemical-Thermal quantitative methodology for carbon speciation in damage layers on building surfaces, Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (2006), 939-944.

Esperienza di 10 anni di attività presso il Camposanto monumentale di Pisa, dal monitoraggio ambientale integrato ai supporti retroscaldati per gli affreschi restaurati

The essential oils are widely used in different fields of pharmaceutical and agricultural industry thanks to their bactericidal, fungicidal, insecticidal properties. Recently, the attention has been also paid in the area of cultural heritage. Fungi and bacteria play an important role in the biodeterioration of historic-artistic manufacts, causing structural and aesthetic damage. Most of controlling methods are often chemicals that have limitations: possible alterations to constitutive materials, limited efficiency, negative impact on the environment and humans. For this reason, our search is based on the implementation of green alternatives to traditional biocides, as the rational use of plants products. In particular, antimicrobial activity of two commercial essential oil, Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris has been evaluated against microbial strains isolated from colonized works of art. Particularly, bacteria such us Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus and fungi as Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, Alternaria spp were tested through agar disc diffusion method. The diameter of the growth inhibition area showed a different bacterial and fungal susceptibility to natural compounds, indicating the efficacy of the plant oil as biocide.

Stone conservation of historic built heritage of urban centres is continuously threatened by high pollution induced by heavy traffic and industrial activities. The deposition, accumulation and interaction with the substrate of complex mixture of pollutant particles and gases can lead to the formation of damage layers, responsible for chemical modification, physic-mechanical damages as well as aesthetic change of stone. The emissions of sulphur dioxide, considered as the most harmful pollutant for carbonate materials, underwent a decrease in the last decades due to environmental regulation but the current increase in vehicular traffic is causing higher concentration of ozone, nitrogen oxides and organic compounds. In this context, heritage materials undergo chromatic variations due to damage layers formation and enhancement of biodegradation. The impact of pollution on built heritage has been heretofore studied by analyzing samples collected from historic buildings or performing tests in simulation chamber and/or in field but gaps still remain in measuring deposition fluxes on materials and developing proper tools for long-term management of cultural heritage. Field exposure tests with model samples are currently under execution in Italian cities characterized by different environmental conditions as a non invasive methodological approach for assessing the effect of urban pollution on carbonate stones. The methodological approach selected for investigating the impact of pollution as well as first available results are here presented. Marble (Carrara Marble) and limestone (Nembro Limestone) widely used as construction and ornamental elements in historic Italian architecture were selected as model samples. They will be exposed at least for 2 years in Bologna, Ferrara, and Florence. Preference for samples exposure were given to sites located outdoor, partially sheltered from the rain wash-out, in areas strongly affected by pollution due to vehicular traffic. Galvanized metallic racks was purposely built to host samples with three different exposure orientations: horizontal, oblique (tilted with 45° slope) and vertical, in order to identify how positioning may reflect on deposition and removal of pollutants. The exposed samples will undergo mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical analyses (Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Ion Chromatography analysis and Thermal-chemical methodology using a CHNSO combustion analyzer [1]) at predefined time intervals to characterize the products derived from pollutants-stone interaction in terms of typology, origin and impact on stone. Moreover, the integration with colorimetric analysis will allow to identify a connection between the deposited soluble and carbon fractions and changes of colorimetric parameters, for setting up damage functions. Simultaneously passive sampling of aerosol has been designed by the exposure of filters while seasonal environmental monitoring campaigns of particulate matter will allow to compare the quantity of soluble ions and carbon fractions present into atmosphere with that actually accumulated on samples surface. Additionally, monitoring campaigns of bioaerosol has been planned in Bologna in order to quantify the microbial load (fungi and bacteria) in air. First data of winter and summer environmental monitoring campaigns as well as results of analyses performed after the first year of exposure will be also presented. [1] Ghedini N., Sabbioni C., Bonazza A., Gobbi G., 2006. Chemical-Thermal quantitative methodology for carbon speciation in damage layers on building surfaces. Environmental Science & Technology 40(3): 939-944.

Background The allergic response in susceptible patients does not always coincide with the presence and magnitude of airborne pollen counts. The prevalence of allergy to Platanus is currently moderate, although the percentage of monosensitized patients is low. This hinders accurate interpretation of the relationship between the amount of pollen inhaled and the patient's symptoms. Objective This study aims to investigate the relationship between the atmospheric concentration pattern of Pla a 1 aeroallergen and the Platanus pollen. Methods The pollen sampling was carried out using a Hirst-type volumetric trap (Burkard ((C))) for pollen grains and a Burkard Cyclone sampler (Burkard ((C))) for Pla a 1 allergen. Serum-specific IgE levels to Acer sp., Artemisia vulgaris, Betula alba, Chenopodium album, Cupressus arizonica, Cynodon dactylon, Fraxinus excelsior, Lolium perenne, Pinus sp., Plantago lanceolata, Platanus acerifolia, Populus sp., Quercus ilex and Taraxacum officinale allergens were determined using the EAST System (Hytec specific IgE EIA kit; Hycor Biomedical, Kassel, Germany). Results The aerobiological dynamics of Platanus pollen grains and Pla a 1 differed considerably, particularly during the Platanus pollination period. Of the 118 subjects tested, sera from 34 contained specific IgE to Platanus pollen and all of them had specific IgE to other pollen types. Conclusions The presence of the aeroallergen Pla a 1 in the atmosphere appears to be independent of Platanus pollen counts over the same period, which may be contributing to allergic symptoms and sensitization. The number of polysensitized patients displaying allergy to Platanus suggested that allergic symptoms were caused by co-sensitization or cross-reactivity involving a number of allergenic particles. Cite this as: D. Fernandez-Gonzalez, Z. Gonzalez-Parrado, A. M. Vega-Maray, R. M. Valencia-Barrera, B. Camazon-Izquierdo, P. De Nuntiis and P. Mandrioli, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1701-1708.

It is now widely accepted that earth's temperature is increasing, and that changes are also occurring in the amount, intensity, frequency and type of precipitation and in occurrence of extreme events, like heat waves, droughts and floods. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas and its atmospheric concentration has increased since the pre-industrial era and same trend occurred for the other prevalent anthropogenic greenhouse gases. These major changes involving the atmosphere and the climate have impact on the biosphere and human environment as shown by the effects on cardiovascular mortality, respiratoryillnesses due to heatwaves, the altered transmission of infectious diseases and malnutrition from crop failures. Studies on the effects of climate changes on respiratory allergy are still lacking and current knowledge is provided by epidemiological and experimental studies on the relationship between asthma and environmental factors, like meteorological variables, airborne allergens and air pollution. Meteorological factors (temperature, wind speed, humidity, etc) along with their climatological regimes (warm or cold anomalies and dry or wet periods, etc.), can affect both biological and chemical components of the environmental factors which affect respiratory allergy. However, weather variables and especially air temperature can also act on airways directly. To conclude, climate change might induce negative effects on respiratory allergic diseases. However, further and specifically designed studies are needed to clarify this issue and the creation of multidisciplinary research teams and the support of environmental monitoring should be the first step.