Malaysians queue for clean air lifelines as haze sends purifier demand into overdrive

Demand has risen sharply across several types of equipment. AA Alive, a medical-equipment company near Kuala Lumpur, reported a 35 per cent increase in oxygen-equipment sales. Its team was delivering oxygen bottles at full capacity, with about 40 rental units going out each day.

Air purifiers saw an even bigger increase. Courts reported a 600 per cent rise in sales from September 28 to October 12 compared with the same period the previous year. Gain City said its sales had climbed to nine times the level recorded at the beginning of the haze season in August.

These figures show how the haze changed household and medical-equipment demand. Families wanted cleaner indoor air, while people with breathing problems needed oxygen support. The companies said demand increased especially after air quality worsened in August and surged again in October.

Haze is a layer of polluted air containing smoke and other airborne pollutants. It can spread across large areas and make outdoor air unhealthy. The article describes toxic haze from Indonesian wildfires blanketing parts of South-east Asia and contributing to school closures and respiratory complaints.

Wildfire smoke contains very small particles and gases. These pollutants can enter the airways when people breathe. They irritate the nose, throat, and lungs, and can trigger breathing difficulty. The article does not name the individual pollutants, but it reports that prolonged exposure can cause inflammation harmful to the body.

This matters because exposure may continue for weeks or months. Families therefore bought air purifiers to clean indoor air, while some patients used oxygen equipment. Juliana Jalaludin called the situation a “multisystem public health threat” and urged people to reduce exposure, especially for children.

People used these devices for two related but different reasons. Air purifiers help reduce pollutants indoors, making home air cleaner during the haze. Oxygen tanks and concentrators support patients who have difficulty breathing and need additional oxygen.

The devices work differently. An oxygen tank stores oxygen in a container and releases it; the article says one can run for about three hours of continuous use. An oxygen concentrator provides oxygen for much longer, around 24 hours, and does not depend on the same stored supply. It uses a filter as part of its operation.

At AA Alive, patients received both tanks and concentrators. Md Noor Bin Bujang received his first concentrator after more than a month in hospital. He said the equipment prevented shortness of breath, especially during the haze. Families, meanwhile, rushed to buy air purifiers for indoor protection.

Wildfire haze becomes regional when smoke leaves the burning area and is carried through the atmosphere. Indonesian fires produce large amounts of smoke, which can move across nearby borders. The article links those fires to toxic haze affecting Malaysia and other parts of South-east Asia.

Air movement is the key mechanism. Winds can transport smoke and its pollutants over long distances, while dry conditions allow fires and haze to persist. As the polluted air settles over populated places, people breathe it, visibility can fall, and indoor air quality can worsen. The article does not identify specific wind directions or weather systems.

The regional spread explains why the effects reached Kuala Lumpur and why the issue affected schools, families, retailers, and medical suppliers. The months-long haze caused respiratory complaints and pushed people to seek air purifiers, oxygen tanks, and concentrators. The article gives no forecast for when the haze would end.

Haze can harm health because its pollutants irritate the body when people breathe them over time. Experts cited in the article warned that prolonged exposure may cause inflammation. The situation was described as a “multisystem public health threat,” meaning its effects may extend beyond one part of the body.

The immediate effects include respiratory complaints and shortness of breath. Md Noor Bin Bujang said he would have difficulty breathing without oxygen equipment, especially during the haze. The article also reports school closures, showing how the pollution disrupted daily life. It does not provide a complete list of diseases caused by exposure.

Children are a particular concern. Juliana Jalaludin warned that repeated exposure, especially during childhood, could leave future generations with a higher burden of respiratory illnesses. Reducing exposure now may protect children’s health and help prevent long-term consequences. Cleaner indoor air and less time in polluted conditions are central to that advice.

Filters trap pollutants from the air. During heavy haze, the air contains more smoke particles than usual, so a filter collects dirt faster. Once it becomes heavily loaded, airflow and cleaning performance can decline. Replacing it restores the device’s ability to process air effectively.

AA Alive technician Mubassar Khan gave a clear example. An oxygen concentrator filter is normally replaced after 1,000 hours of use, but haze pollutants had cut that lifespan in half. This means the equipment needed attention much earlier than it would under cleaner air conditions.

The same basic pressure applies to air purifiers, although the article gives no replacement schedule for their filters. Heavy haze can increase maintenance needs and operating costs. It also shows why people using these devices should monitor them carefully rather than assume a filter will last its usual period during severe pollution.

Wildfire smoke contains tiny airborne particles, commonly called particulate matter, as well as gases. The article does not identify particular substances, but it confirms that haze pollutants can harm the body and cause inflammation. Smaller particles are especially concerning because they can be inhaled deeply into the respiratory system.

Reducing exposure means breathing less polluted air. People can limit contact by staying indoors when outdoor air is poor and using equipment that improves indoor air, such as air purifiers. The article focuses on these responses, while its experts stress that exposure reduction is the key immediate protection.

The long-term concern is repeated exposure. Juliana Jalaludin warned that children repeatedly exposed to haze and air pollution may face a higher burden of respiratory illnesses later. Cleaner air now could therefore protect children’s health and help prevent consequences that persist into future generations.