Damage monitoring on carbonate stones: Field exposure tests contributing to pollution impact evaluation in two Italian sites

摘要: Abstract During the last decades, many studies have been carried out on environmental monitoring in specific sites aiming at their protection and conservation; however, researches focused direct implications, terms of quantitative evaluation stone deterioration, these actions are still scarce. This experimental work aims degradation processes affecting historical buildings constituted by carbonate stones. Specifically, specimens Carrara marble two limestones largely used Sicilian Baroque architecture, namely Noto Comiso stones, were exposed outdoor Italian (Catania Palermo), which characterized different conditions. The field exposure test lasted years. Both substrates deposited particulate collected end underwent several analytical investigations including: i) optical microscopy, mercury intrusion porosimetry, colorimetric analysis roughness analysis, for characterization before exposure; ii) ion chromatography (IC), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), surfaces. obtained results highlighted blackening yellowing substrates, chiefly those Palermo where such more noticeable. Furthermore, high concentration sulphates heavy metals detected (mainly site) pointed that both cities mainly interested mobile emission sources as vehicular traffic. Additionally, analyses demonstrated key-role intrinsic features lithotypes processes. In this regard, higher porosity surface explains major deposition with respect to other examined rocks.