ICP materials: Long-term studies at the Lahemaa monitoring station, Estonia

Abstract

The UNECE International Co-operative Programme on Effects on Materials, including Historic and Cultural Monuments (ICP Materials) is an ongoing research programme in the framework of which air pollution and the effect of climate on the corrosion and soiling of various natural and synthetic materials, among them on historic and cultural monuments, is studied. So far these studies have revealed that even though air pollution has continuously declined in Estonia, no significant reduction in corrosion on the displayed sample plates at the Lahemaa test site could be observed. The present article is based on annual data on the corrosion of carbon steel, zinc, and limestone and the soiling of modern glass in the air at the Estonian Lahemaa observation station from the period 2008–2009 and the relevant environmental data (pollution and climate). For comparison the material corrosion data from the Lahemaa station for 1997-2006 are used. In 2002-2003 the corrosion loss of zinc and in 2005–2006 the loss of Portland limestone increased at Lahemaa. The data from the Lahemaa station for 2005–2006 and 2008–2009 indicate that the estimated corrosion rate exceeds the 2020 target for limestone, which is 8 μm per year.