Pilot study of air quality index assessment of nitrogen pollutant using lichen as bioindicators in Jakarta and Depok, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia needs an alternative air quality index considering that the ones currently in use were not precisely made for the environment and people’s genetic makeup in Indonesia. This study aims to determine if lichen can be used as an alternative index to assess Indonesia’s air quality by acting as a bioindicator. Lichen samples were taken at six locations, three in Gelora Bung Karno’s City Forest, Jakarta, and three at the Universitas Indonesia’s city forest, Depok. Lichens are identified according to the chemical test results and identification key. The amount of lichen obtained is calculated and converted into a NAQI chart to determine if the site’s status is clean air, at-risk, N-polluted, or very N-polluted location. Two of them are polluted by nitrogen from seven sampling areas, while the other five are heavily polluted. This data shows the air quality in all areas is insufficient and polluted. However, our findings are contradictory to nitrogen pollutant data from Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics Council (BMKG). Thus, in the future, there should be a calibrator when measuring air quality analysis using lichen.

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“…(Contardo et al, 2021) Evaluating the physiological response of a sensitive moss species (Evernia prunastri) exposed for three months in a complex urban area in Milan, Italy. (Bukabayeva et al, 2023) evaluated the potential of lichens as bioindicators of heavy metal content in the air in Burabay National Park (Sampe et al, 2020) Evaluating the potential of lichens as an alternative index in assessing air quality in Indonesia, functioning as a bioindicator. Lichen samples were collected from six locations, three in the Gelora Bung Karno City Forest, Jakarta, and three in the University of Indonesia City Forest, Depok.…”

“…Then obey Sampe et al, (2020) in the context of Indonesia's need for a more appropriate air quality index, considering that the index currently being used has not been specifically designed for the environment and genetic diversity of society in Indonesia. This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the potential of lichens as an alternative index in assessing air quality in Indonesia, functioning as a bioindicator.…”

Uptake Test the Content of Ambient SO₂(Sulphur Dioxide) and NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) Compounds in Lichen Thalli in Urban, Sub Urban and Forest in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

“…This urban problem generally occurs in big cities in the world. For example is in Europe which causes decreased of air quality in [21]; Medan City, Indonesia [15] and also forest [22] in Banten, Indonesia.…”