What is Environmental Monitoring?
Environmental Monitoring is the practice of measuring and monitoring different aspects of an area’s environment to determine the potential risks and impact it could have on various objects and material types. In addition to pests, different factors that are monitored include temperature, relative humidity, and light levels.
Temperature and relative humidity are important since different material types react at different levels. For example, metal objects need to stay in a dry environment to prevent active corrosion. On the other hand, wooden objects need a more controlled and slightly humid environment to prevent shrinkage, cracking, and warping, while staying dry enough to prevent mold growth. High heat can be detrimental to objects with adhesive repairs that could fail at high temperatures, and on the other end of the spectrum environments that are too cold can lead to embrittlement.
Light damage is irreversible, and light levels especially impact fragile objects such as photographs, works on paper, textiles, and feathers. Too much light exposure can cause significant fading to feathers, pigments, and textiles, and can trigger damaging, acidic reactions to paper-based objects and photographs.
How Do We Monitor the Environment?
Temperature and relative humidity are monitored on an ongoing and systematic basis through the use of dataloggers. These devices are placed in storage and other collections areas, and data is retrieved and analyzed at regular intervals to monitor for any problematic changes in the environment. If anything alarming is found, the building manager is notified so any necessary repairs or issues can be addressed.
Light levels on the other hand are spot tested on an as needed basis. For example, before a light sensitive object is put on display for exhibition, a light meter will be used to take a reading of the light level in the area the object will be. Based on this light level it can then be determined how long the object can remain on view and exposed to this amount of light before problematic damage occurs.