Environmental pH Evaluation in Exhibition Halls of Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC, Madrid)

Daniel Morales-Martín,Fernando Agua,Maria Angeles Villegas,Angel Luis Garvía,Josefina Barreiro,Manuel García-Heras

doi:10.3390/app112110091

Daniel Morales-Martín, Fernando Agua + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app112110091

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Abstract

Optical sol-gel environmental pH sensors have been applied for air evaluation in exhibition halls of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid, Spain). Sensor synthesis and calibration was undertaken following a previous patent by some of the present authors. Monitoring was carried out for one full year to check the influence of meteorological seasons as well as quality of surrounding outdoor air to a big avenue located in downtown Madrid and close to the museum. Particular sites selected for sensor positions were inside showcases, under the free environment of exhibition halls, and outdoor façades of the building, for comparison purposes. pH recordings showed that exhibition halls near the outdoor air entrance had slightly low pH values, which can be attributed to outdoor pollution. However, halls located far from air entrance had neutral conditions. Concerning showcases tested, some of them showed slightly acidic pH while others were moderately acidic due to natural goods exhibited and/or to materials with which showcases were made. pH values recorded allowed the museum to make some decisions on its preventive conservation strategy.

Highlights

Introduction and MinSuk BaePreventive conservation in exhibition halls is a complex challenge frequently conditioned by items exhibited, visitors’ regimes, and the near environmental characteristics.Reference literature has usually dealt with issues concerning environmental protection of collections [1] as well as conservation concepts for curators and natural history collections [2,3]
Indoor air pollution and its control has been analyzed to design adequate conservation strategies [9], and microclimates generated by pollutants in museums have been monitored to propose preventive conservation measures [10]
The use of museum spaces as places for socialization and interaction between the general public and the museum culture makes the museum environment a fragile system that needs to be stabilized for proper preventive conservation of exhibited items [11,12]

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and MinSuk BaePreventive conservation in exhibition halls is a complex challenge frequently conditioned by items exhibited, visitors’ regimes, and the near environmental characteristics.Reference literature has usually dealt with issues concerning environmental protection of collections [1] as well as conservation concepts for curators and natural history collections [2,3]. The effects of pollutants in the museum environment (storerooms and exhibition halls) have been studied [4,5], and guidelines on preventive conservation have been published [6]. Environmental conditions needed by goods do not fit well with those more comfortable for visitors, even though items exhibited are located inside showcases or in some kind of protected places. Outdoor environment, air quality, and potential pollution risk from urban locations could affect long-term conservation [7,8]. The use of museum spaces as places for socialization and interaction between the general public and the museum culture makes the museum environment a fragile system that needs to be stabilized for proper preventive conservation of exhibited items [11,12]. The evaluation of the museum air quality and the limit of pollutants has been investigated [13]

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