Mapping the susceptibility of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in Europe to ambient (outdoor) air pollution

Abstract

Air pollution, particularly in urban areas, is a concern for its negative effects on the materials of the built environment. Cities are also home to a large part of our cultural heritage. Air pollution accelerates the natural processes of deterioration of the materials of historic buildings and monuments, causing premature aging and reducing their aesthetic value. The present paper aims to assess the current potential damage due to air pollution on different materials through Europe. Several corrosion and soiling maps were produced by applying widely used dose-response functions. One of the priorities of this study was to provide an estimate of the effects of air pollution on UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites throughout Europe. The potential risk for cultural heritage monuments was estimated on the basis of exceeding tolerable degradation thresholds suggested for each material. The results show that, despite the significant improvements in air quality in Europe over the past few decades, air pollution is still considerable and continues to be an important agent of degradation of cultural heritage, particularly in anthropized areas. Although the methodology used in this study provides a simplified assessment of the likelihood of damage to UNESCO's cultural heritage in Europe from air pollution, it provides a unique perspective and the potential risk is assessed on a common basis. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the existing risk deriving from atmospheric pollution and to highlighting those sites, generally located in areas where anthropogenic activity is relevant, that need particular attention. The present paper can serve as a basis for stimulating additional studies and site-specific analyzes, as well as highlighting the need for further measures and policies for atmospheric pollution reduction in cities and in the surroundings of sensitive historic buildings and monuments to prevent further damage.