The accelerating effects of the microorganisms on biodeterioration of stone monuments under air pollution and continental-cold climatic conditions in Erzurum, Turkey Y. Nuhoglu a, * , E. Oguz a , H. Uslu b , A. Ozbek b , B. Ipekoglu c , I. Ocak d , I ˙ . Hasenekoglu d a Atatu ¨rk University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Engineering Faculty, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey b Atatu ¨rk University, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Medicine Faculty, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey c Izmir Institute of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architectural Restoration 35430, Izmir, Turkey d Atatu ¨rk University, Department of Biology, K.K Education Faculty, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey Received 9 March 2005; accepted 16 June 2005 Available online 18 October 2005 Abstract The aim of this research was to determine the accelerating effects of microorganisms on the biodeterioration of stone under air pollution and continental-cold climatic region in Erzurum, Turkey. Studies have been carried out on specimens of the Rustempasa Bazaar, the Lalapasa Mosque, the Erzurum Castle Mosque, the Double Minarets-Madrasah, the Great Mosque and the Haji Mehmet Fountain aged from 441 to 823 years old. The results showed that vegetative and reproductive (generative) forms of the microorganisms could develop during the winter months when the night time average temperature was even À 25 8C. Also the reproductive forms had developed and the whole stone surface was covered with a biofilm caused by the microorganisms. Silicon, aluminum, calcium, potassium, titanium, magnesium, zinc, sulfur, iron, sodium, and niobium were found in the stones of the historical buildings with varying amounts through the SEM-EDS analysis. Some of these elements could be used as an energy resource for the microorganisms together with the air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particles on the stone surfaces. Of 21 isolates, 15 species from 6 bacterium genera and 5 species from 5 fungi genera plus 1 fungi genera were identified on the deteriorated stone surfaces even during the coldest months by microbial identification system (MIS) and these findings were tested by SEM investigations. D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Stone monuments; Biodeterioration; Continental-cold climate 1. Introduction Stone has been one of the most intensely studied materials in conservation. The problem of understand- ing the deterioration of stone is compounded by the 0048-9697/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.06.034 * Corresponding author. Fax: +90 442 2360957. E-mail address: ynuhoglu@atauni.edu.tr (Y. Nuhoglu). Science of the Total Environment 364 (2006) 272– 283 www.elsevier.com/locate/scitotenv