Humidity, Not Light, Found to be the Major Cause of Degradation in Historical Artifacts
Humidity, not light, causes degradation of historical artifacts
The preservation of historical artifacts is something that many museums and curators take very seriously. But now, new research has revealed that it is not light, but humidity that is the culprit behind the degradation of such artifacts. According to a team of researchers from the University of Granada, humidity is the leading cause of physical and chemical damage to historical objects such as books, documents, and paintings.
The team used a computer model to analyze the effects of light and humidity on the degradation of historical artifacts. They found that the effects of humidity were much more pronounced than those of light. In particular, the researchers observed that the rate of degradation of cellulose (a main component of paper) was significantly higher in humid conditions than in dry ones.
This research could have major implications for the preservation of historical artifacts, as it suggests that curators should focus more on controlling humidity levels in order to preserve artifacts. The team of researchers hopes that their findings will be taken into account in the design of new museums and the preservation of existing ones.
source: Phys.org