Chemical exposure in cultural heritage restoration: questionnaire to define the state of the art

The use of chemicals in art restoration involves the potential exposure to risk factors for worker's health and environment. The broad range of non-standardized restoration techniques employed during the interventions on Cultural Heritage, often involves the use of solvent mixtures, and leads without a real understanding of risks connected with their use. Frequently, artworks must be restored on-site, without any adequate ventilation. Additionally, restoration workers do not always wear appropriate individual protection devices (I.P.D.), which could reduce their overall exposure, despite the national rules on workplace safety. Moreover, the treatment of produced chemical wastes may be very expensive and have damaging effects on environment if not handled properly performed. Restorers must be conscious and able to minimize their exposure risk by replacing higher toxicity solvents and procedures with new methods or safer solvents. The goal of a useful prevention plan in Cultural Heritage restoration should be based on a suitable training program for restorers, aimed to raise the awareness on chemical risk and replace the hazardous products. To that purpose, a national meeting was organized in Rome to discuss on "Sustainable Restoration". As a conclusion of the meeting, the promotion of a questionnaire to understand the state of the art about the safety conditions of restorers and chemicals used by restorers and the potential risk factors of exposure was a clear need. In this paper, the design, the validation and some results of the questionnaire are shown.