Indoor Air Quality in Museum Display Cases: Volatile Emissions, Materials Contributions, Impacts

The control of air quality in museum showcases is a growing issue for the conservation of the displayed artefacts. Inside an airtight showcase, volatile substances may rapidly concentrate and favor or directly cause the degradation or other unwanted phenomena on the objects. The role of materials used in the construction of museum display cases as a source of pollutants and volatile compounds dangerous for the cultural heritage integrity is here reviewed with an illustration of consequences and critical damages. Ways of assessing the suitability of materials used either in the construction or in use of the display cases are also discussed altogether with an overview of the possible choices for monitoring the air quality and limiting the concentration of volatile compounds in their interior.

Automated summary

The control of air quality within museum showcases is crucial for the conservation of displayed artifacts, as volatile substances can lead to degradation. This review explores the role of materials used in museum display cases as potential sources of pollutants and volatile compounds, and discusses methods for assessing suitability and monitoring air quality.