Biodegradation of Cultural Heritage: Decay Mechanisms and Control Methods

Our cultural heritage is made with almost all type of materials produced by the nature and used by men to realize several types of artefacts from very simple mono-components to complex structures integrating inorganic and organic matters. These cultural heritage objects, even if made with the more “resistant” stones and metals, are influenced by the environmental parameters, which can modify their structure and composition. Furthermore, being them inserted into the “biosphere” can be decayed by biological mechanisms. The biotransformation process has a worldwide diffusion and attains highest levels in warm-humid climates where the environmental conditions are extremely favourable to the growth of most organisms.