Abiotic Determinants of the Historical Buildings Biodeterioration in the Former Auschwitz II – Birkenau Concentration and Extermination Camp

Excessive dampness and high relative air humidity (above 70%) are the primary abiotic determinants driving biodeterioration in Auschwitz-Birkenau's historical buildings, leading to structural damage such as plaster degradation and wood fiber splitting. A study at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum identified that moisture insulation inefficiencies, rather than temperature or light, were most influential in fostering biological corrosion by bryophytes, lichens, algae, molds, and fungi. While internal mold and bacterial activity was limited, external surfaces, particularly on northern building sides near the ground, showed significant colonization. Temperature and light primarily affected microbial composition but were less critical than humidity in driving deterioration.

Piotrowska, M., Otlewska, A., Rajkowska, K., Koziróg, A., Hachułka, M., Nowicka-Krawczyk, P., Wolski, G. J., Gutarowska, B., Kunicka-Styczyńska, A., & Żydzik-Białek, A. (2014). Abiotic Determinants of the Historical Buildings Biodeterioration in the Former Auschwitz II – Birkenau Concentration and Extermination Camp. PLoS ONE, 9(10), e109402. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109402