Chemical and Biochemical Onslaught of Anthropogenic Airborne Species on the Heritage Monument of the Taj Mahal

A groundbreaking study reveals that the Taj Mahal, one of the world's most iconic heritage monuments, is under siege from highly reactive nano-sized carbon particles—far smaller and more chemically aggressive than previously recognized particulate matter. These nanoparticles, generated by anthropogenic sources in a smoggy environment, produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to air and sunlight. Combined with deposits from cyanobacteria and plant matter, these ROS trigger rapid chemical reactions on the marble surface, accelerating degradation. The research employs modern physico-chemical analysis to characterize these airborne threats, offering new insights into the complex chemistry behind the monument's deterioration under current environmental conditions.

Banerjee, D., & Sarkar, S. (2019). Chemical and Biochemical Onslaught of Anthropogenic Airborne Species on the Heritage Monument of the Taj Mahal. Heritage, 2(3), 2137–2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2030129