Moss as Bio-indicator for Air Quality Monitoring at Different Air Quality Environment

Abstract

Air quality monitoring by using bio-indicatorcurrently being promoted and frequently used in studies due totheir advantages compared to other scientific approaches. Theadvantages of using bio-indicator as a bio-monitoring in airquality are, it remains the cheapest, most available and simplestmatrix for reliable atmospheric monitoring. This study wasconducted to determine moss ability to be used as a bio-indicatorfor air quality monitoring when expose to different air qualityenvironments. Four environmental conditions were chosen toconduct this study; urban area, reserve forest, living room andsmoker’s room. Leucobryum glaucum or Holland moss is used asthe bio-indicator to monitor the air quality. Gridded containers ofmoss were left at each study location for the duration of twoweeks. Physical observation was monitored weekly by examiningcolour changes of the moss. Survivability rate of the moss wasdetermined by counting the numbers of grid where moss growth ineach container. The data was recorded through physicalobservation of moss responses and survivability rate towardsdifferent air quality environment. The data was analyzed by usingSPSS. Moss reacted accordingly towards different air qualityenvironments. Moss reacts mostly at highly polluted environment,in smoker’s room by changing from fresh green to brownish incolor. In conclusion, moss can be used as a bio-indicator in airquality monitoring to determine air quality condition becausemoss changes its physical appearance and growth rate by theinfluenced of surrounding environment.