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Investigation of gaseous and particulate air pollutants at the Basilica Saint-Urbain in Troyes, related to the preservation of the medieval stained glass windows

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Abstract.

The influence of a protective double glazing system in the preservation of ancient stained glass windows in the Basilica Saint-Urbain, Troyes (France) was evaluated. In order to study the levels of gaseous and particulate pollutants, sampling was performed at protected and unprotected windows, as well as indoor, in the interspace and outdoor of the Basilica. Measurements were carried out for a period of one year. The concentration of NO2 was found to be higher inside of the church than in the interspace and outside of the church in contrast to O3 and SO2, which showed higher concentrations outdoor. In the case of CO2, an average concentration of 412 µg g−1 inside the Basilica was detected. However, during special ceremonies quite high, but only short-term lasting CO2-levels were observed. For the bulk analysis and for the studies of the chemical composition and abundance of individual particles, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) were applied. The average concentrations in bulk particles of the elements Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb were comparably high indoors and outdoors. The composition of single particles was found to be more aggressive inside the church than outside. The fine fraction consisted mostly of soil dust, organic particles, ammonium nitrate and Ca–O–C-rich particles. In the coarse fraction, Ca–O–C-rich and organic particles showed the highest abundances. In the interspace also ammonium sulfate was detected. The results show that the installation of the protective glazing in the Basilica Saint-Urbain is from the gases’ point of view predominantly advantageous, but from the particles’ point of view it is only fairly good.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Micro and Trace Analysis Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

    Velichka Kontozova-Deutsch, Anna Worobiec, Zoya Spolnik, Agnieszka Krata & René Van Grieken

  2. Graduate Program in Environmental Management, Centro Universitario Positivo, Curitiba, Brazil

    Ricardo Henrique Moreton Godoi

  3. Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Centre for Integrated Environmental Studies, Mol, Belgium

    Felix Deutsch

Authors
  1. Velichka Kontozova-Deutsch
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  2. Ricardo Henrique Moreton Godoi
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  3. Anna Worobiec
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  4. Zoya Spolnik
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  5. Agnieszka Krata
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  6. Felix Deutsch
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  7. René Van Grieken
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Correspondence to Velichka Kontozova-Deutsch.

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Correspondence: Velichka Kontozova-Deutsch, Micro and Trace Analysis Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium

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Kontozova-Deutsch, V., Moreton Godoi, R., Worobiec, A. et al. Investigation of gaseous and particulate air pollutants at the Basilica Saint-Urbain in Troyes, related to the preservation of the medieval stained glass windows. Microchim Acta 162, 425–432 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-007-0930-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-007-0930-9

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