Young Hun Yoon

The effects of visitor activity on dust in historic collections

Abstract Dust poses a risk to objects on open display, spoiling their appearance and necessitating cleaning. Over time deposits become more difficult to remove, risking damage to vulnerable substrates. An understanding of the sources and distribution of dust is needed to determine housekeeping resources and optimum intervals for cleaning. Dust particles were collected and analysed in four historic properties with a range of access arrangements. Results indicated that coarse particles at floor level rarely rise above 30 cm. Most of the dust on surfaces between waist and shoulder height consisted of fibres from visitors’ clothing. The rate of coverage halved with every 50‐cm distance between visitors and objects. Human activity produced higher levels of dust, for example visitor routes with multiple turns, and proximity of staff and interpreters to objects. To reduce deposition, fragile objects can be positioned further from visitors or given traditional covers. Thanks to a grant from the Leverhulme Trust, the mechanisms that attach dust to surfaces are now being studied, together with staff and visitor perceptions of dustiness.

Clothing as a source of fibres within museums

Abstract This paper examines the role of visitors’ clothing as a source of fibres and dust in museums. Some idealised experiments determined the mass of fibres and dust emitted from clothing and the range of particle sizes found. In chamber studies it was possible to examine the effect of different humidity and airflow on fibre release. Image analysis was used to determine particle size from sub-micron to giant particles including clothing fibre. Clothing was a significant contributor to fibre and dust generation and at low humidity winter garments composed largely of wool was especially large. High air velocity increased particle shedding from clothing. Clean clothing typically released a third to a tenth the weight of particulate material from dirty clothing. It is possible that the fibres and dust produced indoors from visitors could be reduced by an air-shower at the entrance, but less intrusive procedures such as keeping visitors at a distance from objects may be preferable.

Comparison of two methods for measuring the deposition of indoor dust

Abstract This paper examines the suitability of glass slides and sticky surfaces to monitor deposition of dust indoors. Sticky surfaces have the advantage of offering less opportunity for loss of deposited dust and, provided photo‐electric methods can be applied, they are relatively efficient to analyse. The power of modern computer‐aided image analysis increasingly allows more information on particle number and area coverage to be gathered. Although dust deposited on glass is more easily lost, the results are rapidly measured in terms of loss of gloss. This method may well offer a particularly useful measure of the effect of soiling on polished surfaces such as furniture.