Aeromycological study in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

Microbial contamination of storerooms at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum

“…When compared, the obtained fungal concentrations noted in this study were considerably lower than those observed in like studies (Aira et al 2007;Wlazło et al 2008;Zielińska-Jankiewicz et al 2008). This could be due to the air-conditioning system, which delivers air of low biological load in addition to the fact that the measurements were carried out during winter, a period in which fungal spores are less abundant in the air than other seasons (Gysels et al 2004).…”

“…Fungal species from Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Paecilomyces, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, and Mucor genera are the most frequently isolated in the museum interiors (Aira et al 2007;Gallo 1993;Mandrioli et al 2003;Petushkova and Kandyba 1999;Wlazło et al 2008;Zielińska-Jankiewicz et al 2008). In this study, species of Aspergillus were the dominant fungi.…”

Fungal biodeterioration in historic buildings of Havana (Cuba)

“…Earlier studies in Cuba have reported similar results from museums, archives and libraries at the University of Havana , in storage areas containing mostly cellulose-based materials such as the National Archive (Vaillant et al, 1989, Borrego et al, 2008, on photographic materials (Borrego et al, 2010) and inside churches (Sánchez et al, 1988) and homes (Aira et al, 2002). Research in other parts of the world has also highlighted the prevalence of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Cladosporium as well as Alternaria in religious buildings (Aira et al, 2007) and their effect on frescoes (Nugari & Roccardi, 2001) and historical documents (Robledo & Moretti, 1986) has been documented. Studies in modern buildings with problems of damp have stressed the adverse effects of Penicillium on wood and inorganic material and of Penicillium and Cladosporium on paper (Hyvärinen et al, 2001).…”

The assessment of fungal bioaerosols in the crypt of St. Peter in Perugia (Italy)

“…The regulation of the quality of the indoor air in which a work of art or a historical artefact is kept becomes essential for its conservation. In particular, determination of organic pollutants is useful, so that the procedure to optimise the environmental protection represents an important tool in pre-emptive conservation, and above all allows the definition of the levels of biodeterioration risk (which arises from the life processes of living organisms that produce changes in the materials of their surrounding environment) and of sanitary hygiene for the associated operators and visitors (Sorlini, 1993;Mandrioli and Caneva, 1998;Urzì et al, 2001;Pinna, 2003;Aira et al, 2007;Angelosante et al, 2007;Ruga et al, 2007Ruga et al, , 2008Chen et al, 2010). The methodologies and the operational techniques for the prevention and recovery of damages caused by the biodeterioration improve the information about the biological risk factors of the workers.…”