Bioaerosol in ambienti adibiti alla esposizione e alla conservazione di manufattistorico-artistici

Integrated methodologies were applied for the characterization of the airborne particulateinside three different sites with peculiar environmental parameters. The Saints Cave in LicodiaEubea (Catania, Sicily), a semi-confined environment, where biological airborne particulate isstrongly influenced both by surrounding countryside and by continuous air flow. The DiocesanHistoric Archive in Palermo, where important documentary funds (IX-XX sec.) are stored,characterized by an indoor-outdoor exchange related to its use. The Sibilla Antrum (Marsala,Trapani) a hypogeal environment, where airborne particulate can be introduced and moved byvisitors or sometimes related to the presence of pest (synanthropic roditors). With the aim ofcharacterizing microorganisms colonizing both the surfaces of works of art and the bioaerosol,a interdisciplinary approach optical and electron microscopy (SEM, CLSM), in vitro coltureand molecular analysis, was applied. The results allowed us to define a suitable conservationprotocol for the artifacts, and to evaluate and prevent the potential health risk for visitors andoperators.