3. At the University of Freiburg in Germany a
team of biologists is growing moss in a
controlled environment.
Mosses are especially well suited as bio-
indicators for airborne contaminants as they
have no roots and a very high surface –to-
mass ratio .
4. Mosses are used to fight air pollution because
by mass they have a huge surface area.
So because of its huge surface area it can
clean dirt particles out of the air.
Mosses are non-vascular plants that act as
natural air filters against trace elements
present in air.
5. To survive they accumulate trace elements
from atmosphere.
In this way they are able to accumulate and
retain air pollutants.
6. By using spores scientists grow new plants in
the laboratories.
These spores of moss help to monitor the
levels of nitrogen and sulfur oxides in the air.
The moss plants are transferred to air-
permeable bags then moved to monitoring
stations where they absorb pollutants from
the air.
7. The leafy surface of moss plant is capable of
hoarding huge amount of polluting agents
such as Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
Moss plants also generate oxygen and they
cool the surrounding air thus lowering the
amount of pollutants present in the air.
