Pollutants in the Museum Environment

Identification of low-cost pollution sampling devices and methods to reduce significant indoor concentrations of pollutants

Project Details

three individuals set up a machine inside a museum space

Active air sampling at Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

About

Goal

Pollutants in the Museum Environment sought to research the risks posed to museum collections by atmospheric pollutants including both outdoor pollutants (nitrogen oxides, ozone and other photochemical oxidants, sulfur dioxide, and particles) and indoor-generated pollutants (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and formic and acetic acids). It also sought to study passive sampling devices and mitigation methods.

Background

In 1985 the Getty Conservation Institute began researching the risks posed to museum collections by atmospheric pollutants. Initial studies focused on outdoor pollutants (nitrogen oxides, ozone and other photochemical oxidants, sulfur dioxide, and particles). Research later expanded to include indoor-generated pollutants (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and formic and acetic acids). The emphasis of research also shifted from the macroenvironment (gallery and storage spaces) to the microenvironment (display cases and storage cabinets). Studies were carried out to determine the damage gaseous pollutants cause to various types of museum objects.