London’s artwork endangered by road salt
DEC 29, 2010
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.024936
Telegraph : Thousands of pounds are being spent on special grit for roads near London’s art galleries after experts warned that salt spreading is ruining some of the finest masterpieces. The substance, called sodium formate, costs about 10 times the price of normal rock salt. The experts discovered that visitors were tracking salt and grit into galleries, which causes a chemical reaction that leads to permanent damage to priceless paintings. Works most at risk are those containing the traditional red pigment vermilion, commonly used in old master paintings.
© 2010 American Institute of Physics
