Academic thesis
| Rebecca Brennecke: | Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Museum Collections: Analysis of Contamination and Development of Action Strategies | Back |
| Language: | Original - Translation | |
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| Abstract: | This master’s thesis investigates the secondary contamination of a painting collection at Museum M by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are synthetic industrial chemicals that have been used since the 1930s, among other things, as plasticizers and flame retardants, for example in paints. It was not until the 1970s that the use of PCBs was banned due to their persistence and the late recognition of their harmful effects on human health. Nevertheless, sources of PCBs are still frequently found in many buildings, including museums. Emissions into indoor air from these sources can lead to the secondary contamination of art and cultural objects. While there are already legal and regulatory provisions for secondarily contaminated materials in the field of building remediation, the assessment and handling of contaminated artworks is significantly more complex. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was first to examine the fundamentals of PCBs, their emission behavior, and the associated hazard potential. The main focus was the investigation of PCB contamination at Museum M. For this purpose, the environment was analyzed and activities were identified during which exposure could occur. Subsequently, non-invasive investigations using PU foam filters and wipe samples were carried out and evaluated on selected paintings from the collection. Finally, based on the results, precautionary protective measures for handling the paintings were developed to ensure safe handling of the collection. |
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| Contact: |
Rebecca Brennecke rebecca.brennecke@[Diesen Teil loeschen]gmx.net |
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