Indoor air quality control for museums in China

When one thinks of IAQ, the health and well-being of people most often comes to mind. However, IAQ is not only a people issue, it is also a materials issue. Just as people can suffer due to poor air quality in a building, many different types of materials can suffer as well. There are a number of environmental factors that can cause the degradation of materials and artifacts in museums, libraries, and archives. Among these are temperature, humidity, particulates, and gaseous pollutants. Of these, gaseous pollutants are the most destructive. Throughout China, the specialized air quality needs of museums and other cultural heritage sites are being acknowledged. Continuous monitoring of gaseous pollutants has become a requirement in order to provide accurate environmental assessments and develop appropriate control strategies - whether that may involve direct or indirect control of gaseous pollutants. \ This paper will look at air quality in and around three museums in Beijing and one in Shanghai. Significant findings will be reported along with recommendations for air quality and the establishment of long-term gaseous pollutant monitoring and control requirements for the protection of China's cultural heritage.