Air quality monitoring by using bio-indicator
currently being promoted and frequently used in studies due to
their advantages compared to other scientific approaches. The
advantages of using bio-indicator as a bio-monitoring in air
quality are, it remains the cheapest, most available and simplest
matrix for reliable atmospheric monitoring. This study was
conducted to determine moss ability to be used as a bio-indicator
for air quality monitoring when expose to different air quality
environments. Four environmental conditions were chosen to
conduct this study; urban area, reserve forest, living room and
smoker’s room. Leucobryum glaucum or Holland moss is used as
the bio-indicator to monitor the air quality. Gridded containers of
moss were left at each study location for the duration of two
weeks. Physical observation was monitored weekly by examining
colour changes of the moss. Survivability rate of the moss was
determined by counting the numbers of grid where moss growth in
each container. The data was recorded through physical
observation of moss responses and survivability rate towards
different air quality environment. The data was analyzed by using
SPSS. Moss reacted accordingly towards different air quality
environments. Moss reacts mostly at highly polluted environment,
in smoker’s room by changing from fresh green to brownish in
color. In conclusion, moss can be used as a bio-indicator in air
quality monitoring to determine air quality condition because
moss changes its physical appearance and growth rate by the
influenced of surrounding environment.