Corrosion on cultural heritage buildings in Italy: a role for ozone?

Because of climatic reasons and of reduced concentrations of SO(2), ground-level ozone (O(3)) is one of the main air pollutants in Southern Europe. Ozone levels are very high both in rural and urban locations. In the cities, O(3) can affect human health and materials. Regarding materials, most relevant is the exposure to pollutants of cultural heritage buildings. In particular, monuments registered on UNESCO's list of the world heritage require special monitoring. In Italy 34% and 97% of the territory is exposed to corrosion risk higher than the tolerable level for limestone and copper, respectively. The tolerable corrosion level for limestone and copper was also exceeded in the central area of Milan. In this area the tolerable O(3) concentration for copper was calculated. These concentrations (ranging between 30 and 40 microg/m(3)) cannot be exceeded at unchanged concentration of other pollutants to maintain corrosion levels below the tolerable ones.