Composition and possible sources of anionic surfactants from urban and semi-urban street dust

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the distribution of anionic surfactants in street dust samples from urban and semi-urban areas of Malaysia. The dust was collected from streets experiencing heavy traffic in both Kuala Lumpur, an urban location, and Bangi, a semi-urban location. The samples were separated into three particle size fractions (μm) using a laboratory test sieve, namely: fraction A (125 > X ≥ 63), fraction B (63 > X ≥ 45) and fraction C (X < 45). Anionic surfactants as Methylene Blue Active Substance (MBAS) were determined by the Colorimetric Method using a UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. Results indicated that anionic surfactants (MBAS) from fraction C showed the highest concentration (Kuala Lumpur 0.53 ± 0.04 μmolg⁻¹ and Bangi 0.49 ± 0.03 μmolg⁻¹), followed by larger particles (fractions B and A). The cations detected followed the trend of Ca²⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺ > NH₄⁻ > Mg²⁺, whereas for anions, the trend was SO₄²⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻ > F⁻, respectively. Results from principal component analysis and the multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) of ionic compositions, clearly revealed that surfactants from the street dust at both sampling stations were primarily derived from anthropogenic sources. Examples of these sources include construction/industrial activity and vehicular emissions/biomass burning.

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