About MAAQR
Malaysian Association for Aerosols and Air Quality Research (MAAQR) is an organisation for researchers who desire to promote and disseminate their aerosols and air quality-related research.
This association has been registered via the Malaysian Registrar of Society (ROS) in October 2022. The members of MAAQR consist of researchers from various universities and research institutions in Malaysia.
All individuals interested in communicating about aerosols and air quality research are encouraged to join the association.
Aerosols and Air Quality Research
The term aerosol is composed of the ancient Greek word ἀήρ (aēr) for air and the Latin word for solution solutio. An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be natural or anthropogenic. Examples of natural aerosols are fog or mist, dust, forest exudates, and geyser steam. Examples of anthropogenic aerosols include particulate air pollutants, mist from the discharge at hydroelectric dams, irrigation mist, perfume from atomizers, smoke, sprayed pesticides, and medical treatments for respiratory illnesses.
An aerosol is therefore a system of substances. Our ambient air, for example, is an aerosol. In turn, millions of particles can be present in one litre of air. The particles can remain in the air for hours or even days and are present in both solid and liquid form. The particle distribution in the aerosol is extremely agile. New particles are constantly being formed, and their aggregate state, size and sinking behaviour can in turn change continuously.
Air quality research is a field of study that aims to understand the sources, impacts, and ways to mitigate air pollution. Researchers in this field use a variety of methods to study the problem, including monitoring and measuring air pollutant levels, analyzing data on emissions and meteorology, and conducting laboratory experiments and computer modeling.
Research on air quality can help to identify the sources of pollution and the specific pollutants that are most harmful to human health and the environment. This information can be used to inform policy decisions and develop effective strategies for reducing emissions and improving air quality. Air quality research also covers the study of the impacts of air pollution on human health, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other health effects. Additionally, it studies the impacts on the environment, including damage to ecosystems, acid rain, and climate change.
Air quality research also focuses on the development of new technologies, materials and policies that can help to reduce emissions and improve air quality. For example, researchers are working on developing cleaner burning fuels, designing more efficient engines, and developing innovative air pollution control technologies.
Overall, air quality research plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the problem of air pollution, and is essential for protecting human health and the environment.