The impact of indoor air on historic interiors under climate change

Climate and air pollution will change over the coming century and alter threats to historic interiors which lack active climate control. Estimated indoor climate within Knole, an important property in Southern England, suggests temperatures indoors are likely to increase in the future, but average relative humidity will change little. Higher temperatures potentially increase threats from insects and mould growth. Traditional aggressive air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide have reduced concentrations and seem unlikely to increase. Their indoor sources have also been reduced. Outdoors higher ozone concentrations could be experienced under warmer and sunnier conditions, but a low indoor-outdoor ratio could reduce the impact of ozone indoors. Higher indoor temperatures could well enhance the concentrations of some indoor pollutants such as formic and acetic acid that arise from wood and furnishings.