Potential effects of particulate matter from combustion during services on human health and on works of art in medieval churches in Cyprus.
Indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM0.3-10) number concentrations were established in two medieval churches in Cyprus. In both churches incense was burnt occasionally during Mass. The highest indoor PM0.5-1 concentrations compared with outdoors (10.7 times higher) were observed in the church that burning of candles indoors was allowed. Peak indoor black carbon concentration was 6.8 microg m(-3) in the instances that incense was burning and 13.4 microg m(-3) in the instances that the candles were burning (outdoor levels ranged between 0.6 and 1.3 microg m(-3)). From the water soluble inorganic components determined in PM10, calcium prevailed in all samples indoors or outdoors, whilst high potassium concentration indoors were a clear marker of combustion. Indoor sources of PM were clearly identified and their emission strengths were estimated via modeling of the results. Indoor estimated PM0.3-10 mass concentrations exceeded air quality standards for human health protection and for the preservation of works of art.
Loupa
Glykeria
G
Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution and Pollution Control Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, P.O. Box 447, Xanthi 67100, Greece. gloupa@env.duth.gr
Karageorgos
Evangelos
E
Rapsomanikis
Spyridon
S
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D003535:Cyprus; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D010151:Paintings; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002244:Carbon; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium