The conservation of cultural heritage is highly influenced by environmental factors, including chemical and biological air quality and microclimatic conditions. Understanding their combined effects is essential for developing preventive conservation strategies. This study focuses on the indoor air quality in the King’s Apartment in the Royal Palace of Turin (Italy), a historic building lacking air-conditioning systems, where a multidisciplinary approach was applied to assess the conservation environment. Continuous monitoring of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), temperature and relative humidity was performed between March 2024 and July 2025 using portable sensors; aerobiological analyses were carried out through active and passive sampling, while volatile compounds were identified via SPME-GC/MS. Pollutants and biological monitoring revealed fluctuations influenced by microclimatic variations and spatial position. Notably, results showed that one room exhibited the highest levels of concern across all monitoring activities, representing the most vulnerable environment. The use of a multidisciplinary approach enabled a comprehensive understanding of the environmental conditions affecting the King’s Apartment, highlighting the relevance of collaboration in heritage science to guide evidence-based preventive conservation strategies.

Integrated Environmental Monitoring for Heritage Conservation: The Case of the King’s Apartment in the Royal Palace of Turin

Valessia Tango
;
Alice Cutulle'
;
Laura Guidorzi
;
Mariagrazia Morando
;
Sergio Enrico Favero-Longo
;
Silvia Ferrarese
;
Davide Bertoni
;
Tommaso Poli
;
Maria Beatrice Failla
;
Dominique Scalarone
2025-01-01

Abstract

The conservation of cultural heritage is highly influenced by environmental factors, including chemical and biological air quality and microclimatic conditions. Understanding their combined effects is essential for developing preventive conservation strategies. This study focuses on the indoor air quality in the King’s Apartment in the Royal Palace of Turin (Italy), a historic building lacking air-conditioning systems, where a multidisciplinary approach was applied to assess the conservation environment. Continuous monitoring of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), temperature and relative humidity was performed between March 2024 and July 2025 using portable sensors; aerobiological analyses were carried out through active and passive sampling, while volatile compounds were identified via SPME-GC/MS. Pollutants and biological monitoring revealed fluctuations influenced by microclimatic variations and spatial position. Notably, results showed that one room exhibited the highest levels of concern across all monitoring activities, representing the most vulnerable environment. The use of a multidisciplinary approach enabled a comprehensive understanding of the environmental conditions affecting the King’s Apartment, highlighting the relevance of collaboration in heritage science to guide evidence-based preventive conservation strategies.
2025
8
1
24
https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/12/520#Article_Metrics
indoor air quality; preventive conservation; volatile organic compounds; particulate matter; environmental monitoring; microclimate; aerobiology; GC/MS; SPME
Valessia Tango; Alice Cutulle'; Laura Guidorzi; Mariagrazia Morando; Sergio Enrico Favero-Longo; Silvia Ferrarese; Davide Bertoni; Tommaso Poli; Maria...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/2109151
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