Atmospheric pollution and building materials: stone and glass

The research carried out by LISA on the decay of stone and glass by atmospheric pollution is presented. On building facades, areas unsheltered from rain are clear and eroded, while those that are sheltered darken due to the development of black crusts containing anthropogenic particles (fly-ash, soot) cemented by a framework of gypsum crystals. On calcareous stones, in-depth sulphation of the stone substrate may also occur at the same time. On porous calcareous stones, the black crusts detach periodically forming black slabs, creating a white, grey and black jigsaw-like pattern on the remaining stone surface. By exposing stone test samples to field and/or laboratory controlled polluted atmospheric conditions, the formation of embryonic black crusts has been observed. Grey crusts developed during pre-industrial times have been found to contain unburnt wood debris as a record of past air pollution. Glass alters by leaching, corrosion, encrusting and soiling. The quantification of the effects of atmospheric pollution can be accomplished either directly on buildings of different ages, or through field and/or laboratory controlled experiments. Modelling of the alteration of materials by atmospheric pollution consists of the determination of dose-response functions, of acceptable levels and thresholds and in risk assessment mapping.