[Chemical risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds in the field of restoration of art objects].

The use of chemicals during restoration practices involves emissions of toxics depending on both the amount of original products used and the specific techniques applied. Restorers perform a great variety of techniques by using not standardized operative procedures: moreover, they are exposed to mixtures and very rarely to single chemicals. In this study we evaluated workers' exposure to solvent mixture which were generated during restoration of archaeological metal handcraft. Exposure to low levels of twelve organic compounds has been experimented inside a public restoration laboratory: based on the data presented in this article we assume that inside restoration workplaces a diffused indoor contamination can take place. The indoor pollution can generate a risk of an uncontrolled exposure to volatile mixtures: therefore the emissions of solvents during restoration practices has to be avoided even if they cause a low level of exposure.