Indoor particulate matter (PM_2.5) in Malaysian academic building: Elemental characterization and source apportionment

Surfactants and Microbial Aerosol of Urban Particulate Matter (PM10) in Kuala Lumpur City Centre

“…The average concentration of anionic surfactants as MBAS in atmospheric PM10 was 105 ± 48.8 pmolm -3 . These results were similar to the previous studies, which found that the level of surfactants in urban areas was high, as the result of traffic vehicles and urbanization [9,24]. The surfactant concentrations in Kuala Lumpur were probably influenced by anthropogenic sources during the sampling campaign.…”

“…In addition, O3 also might be reduced from NOx in the atmosphere, particularly through interaction with nitrous oxide. Therefore, the positive correlation of anionic surfactants with NOx has indicated a reverse correlation between surfactants and O3 [9,[30][31][32]. Table 3 shows the correlation of MBAS with meteorological factors in the study area.…”

“…The surfactant concentrations in Kuala Lumpur were probably influenced by anthropogenic sources during the sampling campaign. The PM10 sampling was located near college and residential areas with busy traffic, which may result in the accumulation of surfactants in the atmosphere possibly generated by motor vehicles [9,25,26]. For soot samples, diesel vehicles show a greater amount of surfactant concentration compared to petrol vehicles.…”

“…Incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon in fuel is possibly the reason for the high emission of surfactants in the urban atmosphere mainly in busy traffic area [24,28]. Moreover, frequent use of surfactants in engine oil can contribute to the high amount of surfactants in the busy traffic of urban areas [9,29].…”

“…Tsitouridou et al, [4] have found that the concentration of PM was higher during the cold season. A higher traffic density and the use of fossil fuel for combustion was found as the reason for higher PM in the atmosphere [5][6][7][8][9][10].…”