Integrated Assessment of Indoor Air Quality, Fungal Contamination and Visitor Perception in Museum Environments
Abstract
The indoor microclimate of museums plays an essential role in preserving priceless cultural heritage for future generations and in ensuring visitors’ comfort and health. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate indoor air quality, the degree of fungal contamination, and visitors’ perceptions in a museum environment through an integrated, interdependent approach. Measurements of the physicochemical parameters of air quality (temperature, relative humidity, CO2, TVOC, HCHO, PM2.5 and PM10, negative and positive ions and brightness) were carried out in three exhibition halls within a museum in Oradea, Romania, during the period January–August 2024. Fungal contamination was assessed using surface and air samples, with classical isolation and microscopic identification methods. Visitors’ perceptions were analysed using a standardised questionnaire that focused on perceived comfort and visit duration. The results showed that the parameters defining indoor air quality generally fell within the limits set by the international standards in force, with occasional exceedances. These conditions are associated with the presence of fungi of the genera Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus in the air and on museum exhibits, which pose risks to human health and the deterioration of the exhibited materials. The statistical decision-making model determined the critical thresholds above which visitor behaviour changed visibly. The results highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable microclimate in museum spaces, not only for the protection of exhibits, but also for optimising the cultural experience. Indoor air quality indicators and fungal microflora can only affect vulnerable people or those with pre-existing conditions. Occasional visitors do not present a significant risk of developing new conditions, considering the limited duration of exposure.