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Lichens are recognized as highly efficient biological indicators of air pollution. They have been extensively used to detect various types of air pollutants, both from outdoor and indoor sources. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is known to be hazardous not only to its consumers but also to passive consumers, particularly within buildings. This study aims to explore the detection of ETS using lichens within a building in Malaysia. The research was conducted in a public building in Selangor, Malaysia, employing the lichen species Usnea misaminensis. The transplanting technique was utilized, and the nicotine concentration and lichen vitality rate were analyzed. The study demonstrated that lichens can serve as effective biological indicators of indoor air pollutants, specifically nicotine. Additionally, a significant negative relationship (r = -0.71) was found between the lichen vitality rate and nicotine concentrations in the lichen samples placed in the building. This indicates that higher nicotine concentrations in the lichens after approximately 2 months of exposure correspond to lower lichen vitality rates. Research into nicotine detection using lichens may lead to the development of novel monitoring techniques for indoor air quality assessment. Integrating lichenbased sensors into portable monitoring devices or passive sampling systems could provide cost-effective and non-intrusive methods for continuously monitoring nicotine levels in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the learning of science outside the classroom is believe to be an added value to science learning as well as it offers students to interact with the environment. This study presents data obtained from two days' workshop on Lichen as Biological Indicator for Air Quality. The aim of the workshop is for the students to gain an understanding on various aspects on Lichens and its role as a biological indicator. Students are exposed to the following concepts and skills in the workshop: characteristics of algae, the concept of Lichen, causes of polluted air, the concept of quadrant, how to measure the frequency of Lichen, types of Lichen, determining the air quality index, factors determining the quality of air, the role of Lichen, the function of Lichen as a biological indicator and determining the level of air pollution. Four schools participated in the two day workshop whereby two schools were located in rural and urban areas respectively. A total of 125 students were given a pre-test on the concept of Lichen before the workshop followed by brief lecture sessions, hands-on and field work activities, presentation by students. At the end of the workshop, students were given a post-test. Overall, from the pre and post-test results, there is a significant difference in terms of students' performance from all the four schools, in knowledge and skills relating to Lichen and its role as a biological indicator in determining the quality of air.

The health of the river basin is characterised by its ecosystem health to provide significant and valuable resources and services for human use and the basin itself. However, the development of urban space and the intensification of human activities surrounding the river ecosystem have greatly disturbed the river's health, thereby impacting human and environment. Therefore, this paper seeks to assess the degree of quality and cleanliness of river water, which is one of the river basin's health indicators. To identify the issues that affect the river's health, water quality indicators are used. The Inanam–Likas River Basin has been chosen due to its location within an urban area. Water quality data from 2014 to 2018 were analysed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) developed by the DOE. In addition, the Mann–Kendall test is also used to observe the trend and direction of the river's health using WQI data from 1999 to 2019. Based on the analysis, the health of the river basin is moderately polluted due to land clearing and domestic sewage activities. This is shown by the relatively high percentage frequency of contaminated levels of WQI SS and NH3-N. The health level of the river in the upper course is better than in the lower course. This is because development and human activities are more concentrated in the lower course area compared to the upper course. Although the river's health is currently at a moderate level, the trend indicates that its health is improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms with unique features and can be used as indicators for air pollutants. Microalgae have been found to withstand the negative effects of air pollutants. This study examined the relationship between the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and the density of microalgal cells in different areas in Peninsular Malaysia, which has a hot and humid climate throughout the year. The influence of CO on the composition of microalgal species was also investigated. Microalgae samples were collected from four selected areas, chosen based on average CO readings for 2015 in the pattern of increasing values (low, medium, high) – Jerantut (low), Banting (medium), Kuala Lumpur (medium) and Petaling Jaya (high). The study found that Desmococcus olivaceus was the most widespread species found in the study areas whereas Trebouxia arboricola was the most dominant species. Trentepohlia rigidula, Coccomyxa confluens, Keratococcus bicaudatus, and Klebsormidium flaccidum can be categorised as non-tolerant to high levels of CO as they were only found in the area with low levels of CO, Jerantut. The study also showed that there was a perfect positive correlation between the CO levels and the number of microalgal cells. Data from the Jaccard Similarity Index indicates a low similarity in species composition between Jerantut and Banting, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya with Jaccard coefficients of 0.2857, 0.1250, and 0.1250, respectively. The outcomes from this study provide useful data in understanding the relationship of CO on microalgae cell density together with the composition of species and suggest the use of epiphytic microalgae as ecological indicators for air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm farmers play an important role in ensuring oil palm cultivation can achieve sustainable agricultural practice. However, the best agricultural practices among oil palm farmers are yet to be known. This study aims to systematically review oil palm farmers' sustainable practices. The present study integrated multiple research designs and the review was based on the published standard, namely ROSES (Reporting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses). This study used Web of Science (WoS) as the main database in searching for the required articles. Based on the thematic analysis, this review has 5 (five) main themes, the sustainable practices, namely 1) land management, 2) waste management, 3) advanced technology implementation, 4) economic empowerment, and 5) social inclusion. The findings offer some basics on how to integrate oil palm farmers' practices with scientific findings for the formation of the oil palm certification and policy besides providing some ideas on the role of the oil palm farmer in the sustainable development 2030 agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]