Pilot study on inventory and condition of stock of materials at risk at UNESCO cultural heritage sites Part IV - The relationship between the environment and the artifact Prepared by the sub centre of cultural heritage and mapping Pasquale Spezzano, Augusto Screpanti, Ermelinda Di Benedetto, Giovanni Leggeri 31 th ICP Materials Meeting, NILU, Kjeller, Norway April, 2015

The studied UNESCO cultural heritage sites UK, City of Bath Royal Crescent Germany, Berlin The Neues Museum Czech Republic, Prague The Klementinum France, Paris The Facades in the Centre of City Greece, Athens The Parthenon

Pilot study on inventory and condition of stock of materials at risk at UNESCO cultural heritage sites Part I - Methodology. Report 68 (November 2011). Part II - Determination of stock of materials at risk for individual monuments. Report 70 (September 2012). Part III - Economic evaluation. Report 73 (November 2013).

Part IV - The relationship between the environment and the artifact Why: monuments are not independent “islands”. Scope: to better understand the role of the anthropogenic activities in cities and the relevant connections at other spatial scales in determining the levels of pollutants affecting the studied UNESCO sites and thus the damage of the materials these objects are built with.

Updated report The study was performed on the following UNESCO sites: Greece, Athens – The Parthenon; Czech Republic, Prague - The Klementinum; Germany, Berlin - Neues Museum. The following sites were not treated: France, Paris – The Facades in the Centre of City (different complexity, large area); UK, City of Bath - Royal Crescent (less critical site).

Updated report Collection of information from literature data on anthropogenic activities that could determine the levels of pollutants affecting the studied UNESCO sites; Description of: geographic and climate profile, energy consumption, transports and infrastructures, industry, emission inventory, ground level air quality; Elaboration of maps of atmospheric pollution; Elaboration of corrosion maps; Individuation of the major contributors of air pollution-related problems at the studied UNESCO sites; Propose measures to be adopted to improve air quality at UNESCO sites and to prolong the maintenance intervals for restoration works.

Berlin Spatial distribution of NO 2 for 2000 The Neues Museum: 31.2  g m -3

Berlin Spatial distribution of NO 2 for 2010 The Neues Museum: 33.6  g m -3

Berlin Spatial distribution of PM 10 for 2000 The Neues Museum: 31.8  g m -3

Berlin Spatial distribution of PM 10 for 2010 The Neues Museum: 28.8  g m -3

Berlin Spatial distribution of HNO 3 for 2000 The Neues Museum: 0.85  g m -3

Berlin Spatial distribution of HNO 3 for 2010 The Neues Museum: 1.05  g m -3

Berlin Limestone Corrosion map for 2000 The Neues Museum: R = 6.8  m y -1

Berlin Limestone Corrosion map for 2010 The Neues Museum: R = 6.5  m y -1

The Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany Changes between 2000 and 2010 on air quality in Berlin: Significant reduction of air concentrations of SO 2. Stagnant air concentrations of NO 2 and PM 10. Increased concentrations of O 3 and HNO 3 in the air. Impacts on the corrosion rate: The Neues Museum is located in an area of the city where the corrosion rate is not among the highest. Between 2000 and 2010 the corrosion rate decreased by about 5%.

Prague Spatial distribution of SO 2 for 2000 The Klementinum: 10.6  g m -3

Prague Spatial distribution of SO 2 for 2010 The Klementinum: 5.1  g m -3

Prague Spatial distribution of NO 2 for 2000 The Klementinum: 37.3  g m -3

Prague Spatial distribution of NO 2 for 2010 The Klementinum: 42.2  g m -3

Prague Spatial distribution of HNO 3 for 2000 The Klementinum: 0.95  g m -3

Prague Spatial distribution of HNO 3 for 2010 The Klementinum: 1.12  g m -3

Prague Limestone Corrosion map for 2000 The Klementinum: R = 7.5  m y -1

Prague Limestone Corrosion map for 2010 The Klementinum: R = 6.9  m y -1

The Klementinum, Prague, Czech Republic Changes between 2000 and 2010 on air quality in Prague: Significant reduction of air concentrations of SO 2. Small reduction of air concentrations of PM 10 Increased concentrations of NO 2, O 3 and HNO 3 in the air. Impacts on the corrosion rate: The Klementinum is located in an area of the city where the corrosion rate is among the highest. Between 2000 and 2010 the corrosion rate decreased by about 8%.

Athens Spatial distribution of NO 2 for 2009 The Parthenon: 61.4  g m -3

Athens Spatial distribution of PM 10 for 2009 The Parthenon: 47.5  g m -3

Athens Limestone corrosion map for 2009 The Parthenon: R = 5.2  m y -1

General conclusions In developing future actions for protecting cultural heritage from air pollution, the focus of interest has shifted to NO 2 (HNO 3 ) and PM 10. Road traffic is the predominant local source for both pollutants. Household heating is still an important PM 10 source despite relatively clean fuels are typically used. The studied UNESCO sites are located in the heart of European capitals, where high concentrations of NO 2 and PM 10 are usually observed, particularly along busy roads. The improvement of air quality in cities that host the studied UNESCO sites produced a quantifiable decrease in the corrosion rate for limestone. Air quality policies could help to protect not only human health but also monuments and historic buildings from damage caused by air pollution.

Thank you for your attention