A importância da vida no pó: aerobiologia na conservação preventiva

For conservation professionals, museologists and curators from cultural institutions, either public or private, dust control represents an everyday challenge, since it means to find a balance between cleaning abrasion damage and substantial physical damage by biodeterioration for cultural objects. Dust constitution, in terms of microorganisms and spores, its origins and dispersion, seasonal variations, cumulative potential and biofilm formation is information gathered by aerobiology and microbiology that are relevant in the decision process for interventions, both for curative and preventive conservation. The presence of fungal components in bio-aerosols and air monitorization for use as ecological indicator of biocontamination outbreaks, as well as case studies, will be discussed in its close relation to work of art surface’s colonization and resulting potential biodeterioration.