ABSTRACT
The increased prevalence of severe biomass burning due to forest fires in Southeast ASEAN countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Timor-Leste) is strongly linked with human-induced land-use changes, primarily related to agricultural expansion, mainly conversion of forests to oil palm plantations. Large-scale biomass burning that recurs almost annually in this region plays a vital role in regional climate change. Biomass burning emissions are recognized as an essential source of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants. In Malaysia, most biomass burning emissions are due to Indonesia's transboundary pollution, mostly between July and October. Seasonal monsoons and transboundary pollution greatly influence the spatial and temporal variations of long-term air quality in Malaysia. Extreme weather conditions in Malaysia are always associated with long periods of a dry atmosphere, which frequently occurs during El Niño events, though the strength of El Niño was not the primary factor for the large and intense biomass burning in Southeast ASEAN. In this study, we review the impact of biomass burning on the local environment in Malaysia, including air pollution and haze, atmospheric acidity and neutralization, and plant productivity, including respiratory and health issues.
