The Effects of Air Pollution on Cultural Heritage
This book examines the impact of air pollution on cultural heritage materials, which is a serious concern because it can lead to loss of important parts of our history and culture. Damage includes corrosion, bio-degradation and soiling. In recent years, t
- PDF / 16,891,961 Bytes
- 312 Pages / 497.97 x 770.614 pts Page_size
- 75 Downloads / 169 Views
The Efects of Air Pollution on Cultural Heritage John Watt Johan Tidblad Vladimir Kucera Ron Hamilton Editors
1 23
The Effects of Air Pollution on Cultural Heritage
John Watt Johan Tidblad Vladimir Kucera Ron Hamilton l
l
l
Editors
The Effects of Air Pollution on Cultural Heritage
13
Editors John Watt Middlesex University Hendon, UK [email protected]
Johan Tidblad Swerea KIMAB AB, Stockholm Sweden [email protected]
Vladimir Kucera Swerea KIMAB AB, Stockholm Sweden [email protected]
Ron Hamilton Middlesex University Hendon, UK [email protected]
ISBN 978-0-387-84892-1 e-ISBN 978-0-387-84893-8 DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-84893-8 Library of Congress Control Number: 2008936210 # Springer ScienceþBusiness Media, LLC 2009 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer ScienceþBusiness Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Cover illustration: The cover image shows cherubs damaged by both soiling and corrosion. They are on the outside of St Mary Woolnoth, a fine Hawksmoor Church in the City of London. Our thanks to The Revd Andrew Walker for his permission. Printed on acid-free paper springer.com
Preface
Managing the risk to our heritage is, of course, an enormously diverse and complex task, reflecting as it does the tremendous variety of history, style, art and culture that is represented. We have many different types of monument, they are made of many different materials, they range in age over centuries and they are located in radically different environments. Air pollution is only one of the risks that threaten this heritage and may frequently not be the most pressing. In addition we have the added complication that weathering occurs naturally and indeed is often felt to contribute to a sense of age and serenity that is fundamental to the way that we value our ancient buildings. The damage done by air pollution, however, is real, measurable and in many cases obvious. Our industrial development has left us with a legacy of faceless statues and blackened buildings that will take many years to repair and conserve, even when pollution levels are sufficiently reduced to make it sensible to do so. There are important questions to be asked. How much damage has been done and is being done? What is this costing us? How can we be practical in our conservation to prevent unnecessary loss while protecting context and artistic merit? How much value do people actually place on intangibles l
Data Loading...
