Measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in libraries and archives in Florence (Italy)

Abstract

Indoor air samples from libraries and archives in Florence, Italy, were collected and analysed for a variety of volatile organic compounds. The aim was to perform a characterisation of the indoor air quality, and try to elucidate if there are VOCs that may cause or result from the determination of the cultural heritage institutions. All compounds of interest were regularly detected, with BTEXs (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes) being the most abundant and followed by cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes, aldehydes, terpenes and organic acids. The prevalence and qualitative characteristics, such as concentrations, profiles and indoor/outdoor ratios of BTEXs underline the important influence of the outdoor air infiltrations on the indoor air concentrations. Acetic acid that is a substance that can oxidise books and other exposed objects was detected at concentrations ranging between 1.04 and 18.9μgm^-3, while furfural, that is a known marker of paper degradation, was constantly present at concentrations that ranged between 5.26 and 32.6μgm^-3. This work shows the importance that indoor air quality monitoring campaigns can have in order to give early warning to cultural heritage institution managers about the impact that indoor air quality can have on exposed and/or preserved objects.

Keywords: Acetic acid; Archives; BTEX; Furfural; Indoor air quality (IAQ); Libraries; VOCs.