Investigations of Museum Indoor Microclimate and Air Quality. Case Study from Romania
Dorina Camelia Ilieș,
Florin Marcu,
Tudor Caciora,
Liliana Indrie,
Alexandru Ilieș,
Adina Albu,
Monica Costea,
Ligia Burtă,
Ștefan Baias,
Marin Ilieș,
Mircea Sandor,
Grigore Vasile Herman,
Nicolaie Hodor,
Gabriela Ilieș,
Zharas Berdenov,
Anca Huniadi,
Jan Andrzej Wendt
Affiliations
Dorina Camelia Ilieș
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Florin Marcu
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 Piața 1 Decembrie Street, 410073 Oradea, Romania
Tudor Caciora
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Liliana Indrie
Department of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management, Faculty of Energy Engineering and Industrial Management, University of Oradea, 4 Barbu Stefanescu Delavrancea Street, 410058 Oradea, Romania
Alexandru Ilieș
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Adina Albu
Department of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management, Faculty of Energy Engineering and Industrial Management, University of Oradea, 4 Barbu Stefanescu Delavrancea Street, 410058 Oradea, Romania
Monica Costea
Faculty of Environment Protection, University of Oradea, Gen Magheru 26 Street, 410048 Oradea, Romania
Ligia Burtă
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 Piața 1 Decembrie Street, 410073 Oradea, Romania
Ștefan Baias
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Marin Ilieș
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, Sighetu Marmatiei Extension, 6 Avram Iancu Street, 437500 Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania
Mircea Sandor
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 Piața 1 Decembrie Street, 410073 Oradea, Romania
Grigore Vasile Herman
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Nicolaie Hodor
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-6 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj Napoca, Romania
Gabriela Ilieș
Faculty of Geography, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-6 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj Napoca, Romania
Zharas Berdenov
Department of Physical and Economic Geography, Faculty of Science, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 2 Satpayev Street, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan
Anca Huniadi
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 10 Piața 1 Decembrie Street, 410073 Oradea, Romania
Jan Andrzej Wendt
Institute of Geography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, 80-309 Gdansk, Poland
Poor air quality inside museums is one of the main causes influencing the state of conservation of exhibits. Even if they are mostly placed in a controlled environment because of their construction materials, the exhibits can be very vulnerable to the influence of the internal microclimate. As a consequence, museum exhibits must be protected from potential negative effects. In order to prevent and stop the process of damage of the exhibits, monitoring the main parameters of the microclimate (especially temperature, humidity, and brightness) and keeping them in strict values is extremely important. The present study refers to the investigations and analysis of air quality inside a museum, located in a heritage building, from Romania. The paper focuses on monitoring and analysing temperature of air and walls, relative humidity (RH), CO2, brightness and particulate matters (PM), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC). The monitoring was carried out in the Summer–Autumn 2020 Campaign, in two different exhibition areas (first floor and basement) and the main warehouse where the exhibits are kept and restored. The analyses aimed both at highlighting the hazard induced by the poor air quality inside the museum that the exhibits face. The results show that this environment is potentially harmful to both exposed items and people. Therefore, the number of days in which the ideal conditions in terms of temperature and RH are met are quite few, the concentration of suspended particles, formaldehyde, and total volatile organic compounds often exceed the limit allowed by the international standards in force. The results represent the basis for the development and implementation of strategies for long-term conservation of exhibits and to ensure a clean environment for employees, restorers, and visitors.
