FUNGAL CONTAMINATION SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE USE OF COMPACTUS SHELVINGS: THE CASE STUDY OF A VENETIAN LIBRARY

Since the last decade, several authors described a particular fungal infection associated to books in different Italian archives and libraries. The fungus Eurotium halophilicum C.M. Chr. Papav. & C.R. Benj (anamorph: Aspergillus halophilicus), a particular xerophilic fungus, which is able to grow inside climate controlled indoor environments (18-20 °C, 50- 60% relative humidity), such as libraries, but also within air-stagnation areas, was pointed as the main responsible of the infections. The same phenomenon was discovered in a library at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Stored in Compactus® shelves, more than 27.000 books resulted affected by a fungal infection, consisting of widespread, scattered, white spots of mycelium. The most involved parts were the exposed bindings made of leather, cotton fibers, but also coated paper. Different sampling methods, like sterile swabs and specific transparent adhesive tapes (Fungi-TapeTM), were used to sample and isolate the mycelium from the infected books, and investigate if the origin of the infection could actually be attributed to the fungus E. halophilicum. Moreover, aerobiological analyses, performed by using different selective media, were carried out to characterize the book deposit environment, in order to find a possible peculiar distribution of microbial consortia and the relationship between airborne fungi and the infections observed on the material. Results confirmed the occurrence of Eurotium halophilicum’s infection in the Venetian library, both on the books and in the indoor air. Moreover, from the aerobiological analysis, some other xerophilic fungi, such as some fungal strains belonging to the recently revisiting Aspergillus section Versicolores, were observed for the first time in Venetian conservation environments.