When mould is a museum visitor – xerophilic fungal growth challenges environmental recommendations for heritage collections

By Camilla Bastholm, National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

Thursday December 5th at 11:00 am ET

Read the full abstract for the talk below. An Art Bio Matters Membership is required to attend this seminar. Visit artbiomatters.org/join-abm to become a member (it's free!).

Abstract:
In the last decade, extensive fungal growth has developed in Danish museums parallel to climate change challenging occupational health and heritage preservation. The growth was unexpected as the museums controlled relative humidity below 60 %, according to international environmental recommendations for heritage collections. Only heritage artefacts were affected, there was no growth on building constructions, interior and museum boxes. A cross-sectional study using a multiple detection approach found that the culprits were extremophilic xerophilic fungal species able to grow at low relative humidity, which is most unusual for fungi. The study concluded that xerophilic fungal growth is nationally distributed and suggests these species as a novel contaminant in climate-controlled museum repositories. To safeguard occupational health and heritage preservation research in sustainable solutions, avoiding xerophilic growth in museum collections is most important.

The talk will be followed by a discussion with members in attendance.

Camilla Bastholm
Experienced Conservator PhD with a strong history of working with museums and cultural heritage. Skilled in preservation of cultural heritage, research, indoor air, fungal analysis, preventive conservation, working environment, museum exhibitions, and disaster management of cultural heritage with focus on rescue and recovery of damaged cultural heritage due flooding, fires, and natural disasters related to climate change.