Anionic surfactants are one of the pollutants derived from particulate matter (PM) and adversely affect the health of living organisms. In this study, the compositions of surfactants extracted from PM and vehicle soot collected in an urban area were investigated. A high-volume air sampler was used to collect PM sample at urban area based on coarse (> 1.5 µm) and fine (< 1.5 µm) mode particles. Meanwhile, the vehicle soot was collected randomly from the exhaust pipe of various types of diesel and petrol vehicles using a soft brush during dry days. The concentration of anionic surfactants, such as Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS), was determined by the colorimetric method using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. Morphological properties of the PM and exhaust soot sample was studied using field-emission scanning electron microscope. Results revealed that the MBAS concentration was dominated by fine mode particles (6.03 ± 3.97 µmol g-1), whereas heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses, demonstrated the highest surfactant concentration with an average value of 0.340 ± 0.180 µmol g-1. The structure of collected PM for all samples mostly appeared to be an irregular shape with the size range of ultrafine particles (0.05-0.2 µm). The emission of surfactants from diesel and petrol vehicles, especially at urban areas, should be a major concern, because they could negatively affect human health and the environment.

中文翻译：

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马来西亚霹雳市区的阴离子表面活性剂和与交通有关的排放。

阴离子表面活性剂是源自颗粒物（PM）的污染物之一，对生物体的健康产生不利影响。在这项研究中，调查了从市区提取的从PM中提取的表面活性剂和车辆烟灰的成分。一个大容量的空气采样器被用来收集市区（基于粗模式（> 1.5 µm）和细模式（<1.5 µm）的颗粒物PM。同时，在干燥期间，使用软刷从各种类型的柴油和汽油车辆的排气管中随机收集车辆烟灰。使用UV-Vis分光光度计通过比色法测定阴离子表面活性剂，例如亚甲蓝活性物质（MBAS）的浓度。使用场发射扫描电子显微镜研究了PM和烟灰样品的形态学特性。结果显示，MBAS浓度主要由细模式颗粒（6.03±3.97 µmol g-1）决定，而重型车辆（如公共汽车）则显示出最高的表面活性剂浓度，平均值为0.340±0.180 µmol g-1。所有样品的收集到的PM的结构大多呈不规则形状，其粒径范围为超细颗粒（0.05-0.2 µm）。尤其是在城市地区，柴油和汽油车辆表面活性剂的排放应引起人们的极大关注，因为它们可能对人类健康和环境产生不利影响。所有样品的PM的收集结构大多呈不规则形状，其粒径范围为超细颗粒（0.05-0.2 µm）。尤其是在城市地区，柴油和汽油车辆表面活性剂的排放应引起人们的极大关注，因为它们可能对人类健康和环境产生不利影响。所有样品的收集到的PM的结构大多呈不规则形状，其粒径范围为超细颗粒（0.05-0.2 µm）。尤其是在城市地区，柴油和汽油车辆表面活性剂的排放应引起人们的极大关注，因为它们可能对人类健康和环境产生不利影响。