Fungi and Bacteria in Indoor Cultural Heritage Environments: Microbial-related Risks for Artworks and Human Health

Abstract

Cultural heritage constitutive materials can provide excellent substrates for microbial colonization, highly influenced by thermo-hygrometric parameters. In cultural heritage-related environments, a detrimental microbial load may be present both on manufacts surface and in the aerosol. In this study, bacterial and fungal colonisation has been investigated in three Sicilian confined environments (archive, cave and hypogea), each with peculiar structures and different thermo-hygrometric parameters. Particular attention has been paid to microorganisms able to induce artifacts biodeterioration and to release biological particles in the aerosol (spores, cellular debrides, toxins and allergens) potentially dangerous for the human health (visitors/users). Results provided information on the composition of the biological consortia, highlighting also the symbiotic relationships between micro (cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi) and macro-organisms (plants, bryophyte and insects). The results of this integrated approach, including molecular biology techniques, are essential for a complete understanding of both microbial colonization of the cultural objects and the potential relationship with illness to human.

Seasonal Variation of Airborne Fungi of the Tiantishan Grottoes and Western Xia Museum, Wuwei, China

“…It is demonstrated In vitro biodegradation potential test of airborne Aspergilli and Penicillium that they have an excellent capacity for carbonate dissolution, acid excretion, alkaline metabolites, cellulolytic activity, and extracellular pigment production [51]. Meanwhile, many members of the airborne fungi, such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus were considered as ubiquitous opportunistic pathogens to humans and may induce respiratory diseases as rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma and alveolitis, meanwhile, may pose potential threats on visitors [34,43]. Therefore, when they appeared in some relatively enclosed space like caves and museums, a periodic ventilate measures should be taken in these places to alleviate the potential dangers for cultural relics and staffs.…”

“…Furthermore, tourists may transferring particulate materials and carried exogenous microbes into cave ecosystem, lead to an increase of the particle materials concentration and change of airborne microbial communities [32,33]. When it concerned to the public health, many of the airborne microbes act as opportunistic pathogens lead to human diseases [29,34].…”

Indoor air quality of museums and conservation of textiles art works. Case study: Salacea Museum House, Romania

“…Lech et al, 2015 [14], analyses microflora present on historical textiles with the use of molecular techniques. Di Carlo et al, 2016 [15], wrote about fungi and bacteria in indoor cultural heritage environments: microbial-related risks for artworks and human health.…”

New findings of airborne fungal spores in the atmosphere of Havana, Cuba, using aerobiological non-viable methodology

“…Finally, objects forming part of the cultural heritage may provide an excellent substrate for fungal colonization, leading to the biodeterioration of various kinds of material and the release of airborne biological particles which may be hazardous to visitors and users of enclosed spaces [17]. Research has shown that this is particularly significant in indoor environments such as museums [18,19].…”