Pollution Research Paper

AIR POLLUTION ASSESSMENTS USING LICHEN BIODIVERSITY INDEX (LBI) IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

AZLAN ABAS1 AND AZAHAN AWANG

Abstract

Monitoring air pollution in Kuala Lumpur were done using Lichen Biodiversity Index (LBI) where lichen species richness and distribution been calculated and analyzed. Research been conducted in 2015 at 94 sampling stations, with 37 grid square were formed. Lichen distribution and vehicles motor frequency data been recorded and analyzed using T-test. Based on the results, 15 stations as moderate alteration (15.96%), 34 stations as low alteration/low naturality (36.17%), 34 stations as moderate naturality (36.17%) and 8 stations evaluated as high naturality (8.51%). Very high alteration (0 value) and very high naturality (51 and above) fail to be recorded. Statistical analysis using T-test gives result where R-value between LBI score and motor vehicles frequency is -0.4657 (sig. 1 > r < -1) and the P-value is 0.0000 (sig. P < 0.05). This shows that there is inversely significance relationship between LBI scores and motor vehicles frequency. There are lichens that are very tolerant such as Pyxine cocoes, Pyxine berteriana, and Hyperphyscia adglutinata and there are sensitive lichens such as Parmotrema tinctorum, Parmotrema praesorediosum and Physcia atrostriata. With knowledge in identifying the lichen species and calculating the LBI scores, one can determine the air quality in the particular area.