Editorial [Hot topic: Multivariate Analysis and Chemometrics Applied to Environment and Cultural Heritage (Guest Editor: Giovanni Visco)]

The world is multivariate [1]. In order to be significant, data coming from diagnostic work on Environment and Cultural Heritage as well must be subjected to a multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis and chemometrics [2] are integrated approaches necessary [3] to the knowledge of the cultural item history, its constructive techniques, degradation, dating and origin.

The second biennial CMA4CH Meeting occurred on 1-4 June 2008 at Ventotene, a small island near Rome (Italy). Under the II world war, in 1941, some prisoners of the jail, located in the much closed S. Stefano Island, wrote the “Manifesto di Ventotene” postulating the European Union (thanks to Altiero Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi, Eugenio Colorni, Luigi Einaudi, Ursula Hirschmann, Ferruccio Parri, Sandro Pertini et al.).

The aim of the conference is to favour the meeting between researchers, experts, connoisseurs and competents on chemometry with those working on Environment and Cultural Heritage, not forgotten a session dedicated to theoretical aspects.

More than one hundred authors contributed to the Meeting with more than forty presentations.

This special issue contain an accurate selection of papers based on the researches presented at the 2nd edition of the International Meeting CMA4CH with a balance in the three main topics. All papers pass a three, serial, refereeings; the first to check consistence and quality balance, the second to check chemical/physical aspects, the third to check multivariate and chemometry content [4]. Even if slow, this method ensures an increasing quality passing among the three steps. Where possible all papers were revised to in order to facilitate the understanding also by readers with no experience in the chemometrics field [5].

In the previous edition of the Meeting, 2006 [6], we defined the terms cultherimetry and cultherimetrics [7] as the area combining multivariate analysis with cultural heritage. The two main geographic areas where “culture“ born and growth are the mediterraneum and the continental China those, unfortunately, are also subject to an increasing environmental pollution due to antrhopic impacts. Papers in the follow treat large quantities of statistical methods applied to data collected in the spirit of the meeting. Mainly; Principal Components Analysis, Canonical Components Analysis, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and K means clustering, potential functions, wavelengths selection, PLS, PLS-DA, PCoA are widely used with other multivariate techniques.

In many of the papers treating Cultural Heritage the analyses are performed by “in situ” non invasive or microinvasive techniques in order to respect the value of the artefacts. As it regards papers treating Environment [8], traces content of toxic metal ions were determined in potable waters by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). A Mass balance Model was applied to data coming from PM10 monitoring obtained by Thermal Optical Transmission (TOT) Ionic Chromatography (IC) and Inductive Plasma Coupling - Optical Emission Spectroscopy (IPC-OES). Aerosol samples coming from a Mediterranean and a Turkey monitoring stations were analysed by IC with UV detection. HPLC was used to compare the efficiency of different nanosized TiO2, used to catalyse the UV photodegradation of typical textile dyes.

An interesting works build a bridge from cultural heritage and environmental, a paleoenvironmental study of Triassic and Cretaceous clays to find separation of samples by means of cluster analysis. First of all I would like to thank all the authors for their great patience in following the Meeting's Abstract Template as well as for the prompt replies to the Referee's questions regarding papers included in this special issue.

A big thanks to some friends and co-workers for their diligent help in corrections and proofs; in alphabetical order: M.I. Dias, J.B. Ghasemi, A. Kachbi, P. Ielpo, F. Marini, S.H. Plattner, M.P. Sammartino.

The third meeting is planned for September 26-29, 2010 near the larger volcano of Europe, Taormina in Sicily Island (Italy). Also from this edition there is a “cheap course; Multivariate Analysis for Novices” in the three days before the meeting.