Biological and microclimatic monitoring for conservation of cultural heritage: a case study at the De Rossi room of the Palatina library in Parma

In cultural heritage indoor environments, biological particles represent a hazard for artefacts (biodeteriogenic action) and for humans (infectious, allergenic and toxic effects) (Mandrioli et al. 2003; Sterflinger 2010; Di Carlo 2016). Fundamental steps for prevention are the knowledge of biological agents (quantitative and qualitative) and of factors affecting their circulation, survival and growth (Balocco et al. 2013). Recommended range for microclimatic parameters in archives and libraries (ASHRAE 2003; UNI 10829 1999; MIBAC 2001) are achievable only if a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is installed. Regarding environmental microbial contamination, there is a reduced number of studies and there are still no reference methods for air and surface sampling, other than threshold values have not been defined yet (Mandrioli e al. 2003; Di Carlo 2016; Pasquarella et al. 2015, INAIL 2017). A working model for a global assessment of environmental microclimate and contamination has been proposed (Pasquarella et al. 2015), and applied in this study for monitoring different seasons at the Palatina Library in Parma..