ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The marble surfaces and floral mosaics of the Taj Mahal are being worn away due to excessive cleaning, according to reports.

And cleaners are having their work cut out to combat the twin issues of insect faeces and air pollution that are disfiguring the façade of the 17th century monument.

The complex structure of the Taj Mahal is made up of white marble domes and minarets inlaid with semi-precious stones and carvings. Air pollution from industrial Agra and a nearby oil refinery has given the iconic building a yellow and brown tinge. Meanwhile, faeces from mosquito-like insects breeding in the nearby Yamuna river are leaving green and black patches on the monument's walls.

Workers clean the walls clean each day, but this regular scrubbing can damage the mosaics and shiny marble surfaces according to Bhuvan Vikram of the Archaeological Survey of India.

"A series of marble panels depicting plant motifs on the walls or reflective tiles used in this part of the monument are becoming disfigured," said Vikram.

Steps are being taken to control the population of the Goeldichironomus insects, which are currently in excessively high numbers due to low river levels which have resulted in fewer fish to feed on them. Meanwhile, the air pollution problem is being tackled using a traditional facial treatment used by Indian women.

Since 1994, the Taj Mahal has been receiving periodic 'mud packs' in the form of a layer of lime-rich clay plastered over the affected areas and left overnight to dry. The flakes are then removed with soft nylon brushes and washed with distilled water to remove any impurities sticking to the surface.