Diferentes materiales afectados por la problemática del biodeterioro.

PATRICIA GUIAMET; SANDRA G. GÓMEZ DE SARAVIA; VILMA G. ROSATO

Ciencia

FCEYN Universidad Nacional de Catamarca

Año: 2008 vol. 3 p. 16 - 26

1668-2009

The biodeterioration of different kind of materials is caused mainly by metabolic products and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) expelled by bacteria, algae, and fungi that form a particular pellicle named biofilm. The EPS acts as glue for particulate material of the environment, increasing the disfigurement effects of the biofilm and interfering with the cleaning of surfaces. Biodeterioration is influenced by environmental factors, such as relative humidity and temperature, and also by natural and anthropogenic pollution. Other organisms also act in these processes together with the previously mentioned ones: lichens, mosses, vascular plants, and arthropods. Biodeterioration problems become economically and socially very important when colonized substrates represent cultural heritages. The aim of this work is to make a brief review on biodeterioration studies of different materials of patrimonial interest. Samples were taken from: i) San Ignacio Miní Ruins, Misiones, ii) a piece of canvas of easel painting, iii) a VHS tape, iv) La Plata Cemetery, Buenos Aires, v) sites with prehistoric art located in the Ventania system, Buenos Aires, and vi) Nueva York street, Berisso, Buenos Aires. Samples were analyzed with microbiological techniques, to estimate the microbial load and to identify different groups of microorganisms inhabiting the biofilm. In order to study the effect of biological activity and its interaction with physical and chemical variables that take part in biodeterioration,