Characteristic of airborne particulates monitored in a museum : a case study at National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur

Abstract

The explosion of global warming and climate change occurs parallel to the rise of earth development. This is due to the deterioration of atmospheric environment that roots from man-made sources. Ranges of air pollutants had been discovered. However, this research focuses on Particulates Matter (PM) in particular, source from transportation. The Particulate Matter is a complex mixture of extremely small solids and liquid particles suspended in air. This complex mixture contains a number of components, including acidic and organic chemicals, and soot, smoke, pollen, and dust particles. It comes in many particle sizes of ranges, coarse particles, which known as Inhalable Particulates (PM10) and fine particles as Respirable Particulates (PM2.5). Studies have been carried out on specimens of airborne particulates in National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur. The objective is to investigate the main sources of suspended airborne particulates in the air of the outdoor museum, indoor and showcase atmospheric in determining the risk level of artefact deterioration. The analysis was done to compare the mass concentration, size distribution, physical characterisation of airborne particulates indoor and outdoor of the museum. The evidence is believed that the fine particles provide higher degrees of illness than coarse particles. The fine particles from outdoor atmospheric can deposit into deeper part of museum showcases and apart from the size of the particles, other specific physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that include the presence of metals, other organic components, or certain toxins provide adverse negative effect towards the artefacts in the museum and also brings influence harmful health effects to worker and visitor.