A Comparative Study on the Air Quality of Three Sites in Baguio Using Lichens as Bioindicator
A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE AIR QUALITY OF THREE SITES IN BAGUIO USING LICHENS AS BIOINDICATOR
CAWAL-O, LIXA MAE GUERRERO, LARA MARIE MARAWIS, KORINA
A Research Paper submitted to the College of Arts and Communication University of the Philippines Baguio Gov. Pack Road, Baguio City
In partial fulfillment of the course Basic Research Skills (Communication 2)
January 22, 2012
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Atmospheric or Air pollution has a drastic effect in limiting the distribution of many living organism including plants like lichens and bryophytes (Laundon 1967 as cited by Hill, 1971). Air pollution is any contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes or by-products that endangers human health and other living organisms like plants and animals (Daly, 1970). It is strongly affected by atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity and it is caused by several factors which includes anthropogenic activities like vehicular emissions, combustion of the fossil fuels, coal and oil for domestic heating, electricity generating, industrial uses such as oil refining, steel, copper, nickel, magnesium production and phosphate fertilizer production (Adams and Preston, 1992) and natural processes in the atmosphere. These contaminants are emitted from diverse sources because of industrialization and this accounts for the fact that air pollutant and air quality is found to be much worse in many developing countries (www.learner.org) and this includes the Philippines.
Pollutants or contaminants in the atmosphere are categorized as either primary air pollutants which are emitted directly into the air from sources. It can be precursors for the formation of secondary air pollutants which are chemicals formed through reactions in the atmosphere (www.learner.org). The Primary air pollutants include Sulfur dioxide (SO2),
CAWAL-O, LIXA MAE GUERRERO, LARA MARIE MARAWIS, KORINA
A Research Paper submitted to the College of Arts and Communication University of the Philippines Baguio Gov. Pack Road, Baguio City
In partial fulfillment of the course Basic Research Skills (Communication 2)
January 22, 2012
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Atmospheric or Air pollution has a drastic effect in limiting the distribution of many living organism including plants like lichens and bryophytes (Laundon 1967 as cited by Hill, 1971). Air pollution is any contamination of the atmosphere by gaseous, liquid, or solid wastes or by-products that endangers human health and other living organisms like plants and animals (Daly, 1970). It is strongly affected by atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity and it is caused by several factors which includes anthropogenic activities like vehicular emissions, combustion of the fossil fuels, coal and oil for domestic heating, electricity generating, industrial uses such as oil refining, steel, copper, nickel, magnesium production and phosphate fertilizer production (Adams and Preston, 1992) and natural processes in the atmosphere. These contaminants are emitted from diverse sources because of industrialization and this accounts for the fact that air pollutant and air quality is found to be much worse in many developing countries (www.learner.org) and this includes the Philippines.
Pollutants or contaminants in the atmosphere are categorized as either primary air pollutants which are emitted directly into the air from sources. It can be precursors for the formation of secondary air pollutants which are chemicals formed through reactions in the atmosphere (www.learner.org). The Primary air pollutants include Sulfur dioxide (SO2),
References: Hill, D. 1971. Experimental study of the effect of sulphite on lichens with reference to atmospheric pollution. New phytol. 70, 831-836 J Kaskel, A., P. Hummer Jr., and L. Daniel. 1995. Biology An Everyday Experience. Glencoe Macmillan/McGraw-Hill New York, New York Loppi, S., Frati, L., 2006 Monge-Nájera, J., M.González, M.Rossi1 and V. Méndez. 2001. A new method to assess air pollution using lichens as bioindicators. Rev. Biol. Trop. 50(1): 321-325 Nash, T Odum, E. 1971. Fundamentals of Ecology. 3rd Ed. W. B. Saunders Company Philadelphia Pawlik-skowronska B Purvis, W. 2000. Lichens. Smithsonian Institute Press. Washington, D.C Stamenkovic, S., M Tarhanen. S. 1998. Ultrastructural responsed of the lichen Bryoria fuscescens to simulated rain and heavy meatal eposition. Annals of botany 82: 734-746. Tortora, G. and J. Becker. 1972. Life Science. The Macmillan Company. New York Vokou, D., Pirintsos, S.A Wirth, V. & Nash, T. 1988. Lichen, Bryophytes & Air Quality. Gebruder Borntaeger World Health Organization (WHO)