Written on: December 14, 2020 by SprayTM
Antal György Almásy, President of The Brazilian Aerosol Association (Associação Brasileira de Aerossóis e Saneates Domissanitários or ABAS) for 2020–2022, died on December 13 of COVID-19.
Almásy with SPRAY Technical Editor Montfort Johnsen
A devoted aerosol chemist, Almásy was Technical Director at AeroService Tecnologia & Treinamento Ltda in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He also taught Aerosol Technology courses at Fatec Diadema Tecnologia em Cosméticos and was a postgraduate professor in Aerosol Technology at Instituto Racine. He was particularly proud of the aerosol lab installed at Fatec Diadema Tecnologia em Cosméticos.
Almásy had told SPRAY in a recent interview that ABAS staff had already begun working in home offices in January 2020 (before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns), using its headquarters to maintain its historical archives and host events such as technical training courses.
When the pandemic hit, ABAS led the “Alcohol 70° Aerosol for fight against COVID-19” campaign that donated free aerosol hand sanitizers with 70% alcohol for 
exclusive use in public health hospitals. A 150mL travel-sized in an aluminum can and a 300mL spray in a steel can (for a total of 300,000 units) were produced for approximately $800,000 with the participation of 31 companies, large and small, scattered throughout Brazil.
“The companies mobilized with solidarity in a few weeks, forgot commercial differences and united the Brazilian aerosol sector in a greater cause, greater than all of us combined,” Almásy said.
“Additionally, documentation in Portuguese with open .doc files for easy translation on Google was sent to all international aerosol associations as a humble contribution in these times of distress,” he added.
For its efforts, ABAS won the 2020 Sustainable Development Achievement Award from the European Aerosol Federation (FEA). The FEA jury dedicated the award to the entire global aerosol industry that helped, and continues to help, local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Almásy will be greatly missed by the staff at SPRAY and by the global aerosol community.
