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MODERN METHODS TO PREVENT OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES FOR WORKERS AND REDUCING BIOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS IN MUSEUMS

Maria Haiducu, Raluca Stepa, Steluta Nisipeanu, Iuliana Scarlat, Ioana Stanculescu, Valentin Moise

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the TEXLECONS project which studies the biocide effect of gamma radiation for the treatment of leather and textiles heritage objects and for the improvement of occupational environment. Fumigation with different poisoning chemicals is one of the methods that can be applied for both the treatment of individual items and for mass decontamination. However, the use of these methods may just switch the hazard form biological to chemical, since, biocidal chemicals may be dangerous for the personnel and the environment. On the other hand, micro-organisms may adapt to biocide making the treatment ineffective on long term. Biological agents present in museums are often the cause of dermatitis, asthma, rhinitis or allergies among workers who come in contact with them. The research has focused both on saving the heritage objects and on the prevention of occupational diseases to the workers in museums. There are very few reports on the ionizing radiation treatment for cultural heritage items containing leather and textiles and even fewer on the effects of ionizing radiation on the leather or textile fibers as part of cultural heritage items. The project research presented here determined the level of microbiological contamination of air in several museums in Romania and the effect of alternative, non-chemical decontamination using gamma radiation.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2014/B12/S2.066

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