Air Quality Impact on Cultural Heritage Preservation

Airborne pollutants pose a multifaceted threat to the preservation of cultural heritage, affecting materials ranging from stone and metals to glass and organic substrates. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter interact with artefact surfaces through chemical reactions and physical deposition. Acidic gases promote etching and gypsum crust formation on calcareous stone, while nitrogen compounds contribute to nitrate crystallisation and mechanical stress. Fine particulates carry transition metals that catalyse degradation of pigments, paper and textile fibres by redox processes. Deposition of airborne dust also obscures decorative surfaces and accelerates soiling. Climate factors, such as humidity and temperature fluctuations, modulate these processes by altering reaction kinetics and salt crystallisation cycles. Global urbanisation has intensified pollutant concentrations in proximity to historic sites, necessitating advanced monitoring and predictive modelling approaches. Contemporary research strives to characterise pollutant–material interactions under realistic environmental conditions, develop dose–response relationships and design targeted mitigation strategies, such as protective coatings, environmental control systems in museums and pollution abatement policies. This body of work underlines the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to safeguard architectural ensembles, outdoor monuments and museum collections in both developed and emerging cultural contexts.

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Air Quality Impact on Cultural Heritage Preservation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in air quality impact on cultural heritage preservation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Particulate matter (PM): A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in air, classified by aerodynamic diameter (e.g. PM2.5, PM10).

Corrosion: Chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material (typically metal) and its environment, resulting in deterioration.

Soiling: The accumulation of airborne particles on surfaces, causing visual haze and potential chemical interaction.

Dose–response function (DRF): A mathematical relationship linking pollutant exposure levels to rates of material damage under specified environmental conditions.

Patina: A surface film that forms on metal or stone through weathering or deliberate treatment, which can influence subsequent pollutant interactions.

References

1. The role of particulate matter in bronze corrosion: A novel method for assessment and prediction. The Science of The Total Environment (2025).
2. Modelling of Glass Soiling Due to Air Pollution Exposure at Urban and National Scales: Coimbra (Portugal) Case Study. Environments (2024).
3. Satellite Sensed Data-Dose Response Functions: A Totally New Approach for Estimating Materials’ Deterioration from Space. Remote Sensing (2023).