Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a concern in kindergartens as children spend much of their time there. Yet, there is a shortage of biological indicators needed for assessing IAQ. Thus, this study evaluated IAQ using transplanted lichen Usnea misaminensis as a biological indicator. Lichen samples, collected from Bukit Larut, Perak, Malaysia, were exposed to indoor and outdoor environments in an urban area (Ummi Aiman Kindergarten) and a rural area (Ummi Qaseh Pelangi Kindergarten) for 2 months during August 15 to October 14, 2019. The concentrations of 12 selected elements and the vitality of the lichens were then evaluated. Increased concentrations of eleven of the twelve elements deposited in the lichen samples in both urban and rural areas were observed. For both areas, the element concentrations in the samples from the indoor environment was lower than those from the outdoor environment, and those in the rural area were lower than those from in the urban area, suggesting the impacts of traffic emissions. The vitality of the lichens showed no significant change in indoor environment, compared to that in outdoor environment, indicating that even exposed to indoor environment, the lichens remained effective biological indicators as same as they were in the outdoor environment. Lichens are effective biological indicators for both outdoor and indoor environments. Furthermore, outdoor emissions could influence IAQ, which could be problematic in densely populated areas such as kindergartens. Mitigation measures should be taken.

中文翻译：

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地衣揭示了马来西亚雪兰莪州的室内空气质量

在幼儿园，室内空气质量（IAQ）是一个令人担忧的问题，因为孩子们在这里呆了很多时间。然而，评估室内空气质量需要生物学指标的短缺。因此，本研究使用移植的地衣松萝误胺症作为生物学指标评估了IAQ。从马来西亚霹雳州武吉拉鲁特（Bukit Larut）采集的地衣样品于2019年8月15日至10月14日在城市地区（Ummi Aiman幼儿园）和农村地区（Ummi Qaseh Pelangi幼儿园）暴露于室内和室外环境，历时2个月。然后评估了12种选定元素的浓度和地衣的活力。观察到在城市和农村地区，地衣样品中沉积的十二种元素中的十一种的浓度增加。对于这两个领域 室内环境中的样品中元素含量低于室外环境中的样品，农村地区中的样品中元素含量低于城市地区，提示交通排放的影响。与室外环境相比，地衣的生命力在室内环境中没有显着变化，这表明即使暴露在室内环境中，地衣仍保持与室外环境相同的有效生物学指标。地衣是用于室外和室内环境的有效生物指标。此外，室外排放物可能影响室内空气质量，这在人口稠密的地区（例如幼儿园）可能会成为问题。应采取缓解措施。农村地区的排放量低于城市地区，表明交通排放的影响。与室外环境相比，地衣的生命力在室内环境中没有显着变化，这表明即使暴露在室内环境中，地衣仍保持与室外环境相同的有效生物学指标。地衣是用于室外和室内环境的有效生物指标。此外，室外排放物可能影响室内空气质量，这在人口稠密的地区（例如幼儿园）可能会成为问题。应采取缓解措施。农村地区的排放量低于城市地区，表明交通排放的影响。与室外环境相比，地衣的生命力在室内环境中没有显着变化，这表明即使暴露在室内环境中，地衣仍保持与室外环境相同的有效生物学指标。地衣是用于室外和室内环境的有效生物指标。此外，室外排放物可能影响室内空气质量，这在人口稠密的地区（例如幼儿园）可能会成为问题。应采取缓解措施。表明即使暴露在室内环境中，地衣仍保持与室外环境相同的有效生物学指标。地衣是用于室外和室内环境的有效生物指标。此外，室外排放物可能影响室内空气质量，这在人口稠密的地区（例如幼儿园）可能会成为问题。应采取缓解措施。表明即使暴露在室内环境中，地衣仍保持与室外环境相同的有效生物学指标。地衣是用于室外和室内环境的有效生物指标。此外，室外排放物可能影响室内空气质量，这在人口稠密的地区（例如幼儿园）可能会成为问题。应采取缓解措施。