Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

In Situ Investigation of the Biodeteriorative Microorganisms Lived on Stone Surfaces of the Sumela Monastery (Trabzon, Turkey)

Abstract

Yasar Nuhoglu, Mustafa Var, Emel Koçak, Hakan Uslu and Hulya Demir

In situ investigation of the biodeteriorative microorganisms lived on the Sumela monastery stones were identified using Microbial Identification System (MIS) and SEM-EDS combined system energy dispersive spectrometric investigations. The results showed that wide variety micro/macro-organisms dwell on stones of the Sumela Monastery. Total 24 species and 10 genuses were determined on the deteriorated stone surfaces by microbial identification studies. The settled way of these organisms on stone surface were illustrated by SEM images. EDS analyses show that the major elements constituting the stones of the Sumela Monastery are silicon, aluminum, calcium, potassium, titanium, magnesium, zinc, sulfur, iron, sodium and niobium. Some of these elements could provide energy resources for the microorganisms by dissolving stone-surfaces of the Monastery. However, the biodeteriorative effect of micro/macroorganisms is more significant on stones of the Sumela Monastery, we see that the man is the most destructive agents on the historical building among all of the deteriorative factors.