Oxygen tanks, purifier sales spike as haze crisis hits Southeast Asia

Haze is a thick layer of polluted air that reduces air quality and can contain irritating particles. These pollutants matter because people breathe them into their lungs, where they can trigger inflammation and worsen breathing problems. The article reports school closures, rising respiratory complaints, and increased demand for oxygen equipment.

The danger is not only temporary discomfort. Experts cited in the article warn that prolonged exposure to haze pollutants can cause inflammation harmful to the body. One expert classifies the situation as a “multisystem public health threat,” meaning its effects may extend beyond the lungs.

The immediate concern is reducing exposure, especially for children and people already struggling to breathe. Professor Juliana Jalaludin warns that repeated exposure during childhood could increase future respiratory illness. Her advice is clear: reduce exposure now to protect health and limit long-term consequences.

Demand for equipment rose sharply as haze worsened air quality. AA Alive reported a 35% increase in oxygen-equipment sales and was delivering around 40 rental units each day. Its showroom and warehouse held nearly 60 concentrators and about 20 oxygen tanks awaiting service or replacement.

Air-purifier sales climbed even more dramatically. Courts reported a 600% increase in sales from September 28 to October 12 compared with the same period the previous year. Gain City also reported a significant increase, with sales reaching nine times their level at the start of the haze season in August.

These figures show that families and patients were responding to both indoor-air concerns and breathing difficulties. Retailers said customers were becoming more conscious of indoor air quality. AA Alive said it could meet higher demand because it had experienced haze-related demand every year.

Both devices help people who struggle to breathe by providing supplemental oxygen. This can ease shortness of breath when polluted air aggravates an existing respiratory problem. The article describes oxygen equipment as especially useful during the haze, when patients reported breathing difficulties.

An oxygen tank stores a limited supply of oxygen under pressure. AA Alive says one tank can run for about three hours of continuous use. An oxygen concentrator works differently: it takes air from the surroundings and concentrates the oxygen for delivery. It can be used for about 24 hours, according to the company.

The difference affects how long patients can use the equipment before service or replacement is needed. Md Noor Bin Bujang received his first concentrator after more than a month in hospital. He said that without it, haze would cause shortness of breath. AA Alive supplies both types.

Long exposure to haze can affect health because pollutants irritate the body and may cause inflammation. The article links the crisis with a rise in respiratory complaints and describes prolonged exposure as potentially harmful beyond the respiratory system. This makes sustained haze more serious than a brief period of poor visibility.

Breathing problems can become especially difficult for people who already need medical support. Md Noor Bin Bujang said haze caused shortness of breath without oxygen equipment. Experts also warn that repeated exposure can create longer-term risks, rather than only immediate symptoms such as difficulty breathing.

Children are a particular concern. Juliana Jalaludin warns that future generations could experience a higher burden of respiratory illnesses if exposed repeatedly, especially during childhood. She says reducing exposure now is the key way to protect children’s health and prevent long-term consequences.

Filters clean air by trapping unwanted particles. When polluted air contains more particles, a filter can collect them faster and become less effective sooner. That is why severe haze can increase maintenance needs for equipment that processes surrounding air.

The article gives a specific example involving oxygen concentrators. Mubassar Khan, an AA Alive technician, says a concentrator filter is normally replaced after 1,000 hours of use. During the haze, pollutants halved that lifespan, meaning the filter needed replacement much earlier than usual.

The article does not give a replacement interval for household air purifiers. However, the same basic filtering principle explains why heavily polluted indoor air can place greater demands on air-cleaning devices. Families using such equipment should follow the manufacturer’s maintenance guidance. The documented evidence is strongest for concentrators, whose filters were affected by haze pollutants.

Families can reduce exposure by making indoor air cleaner and limiting contact with polluted outdoor air. Practical steps include staying indoors when haze is severe, closing windows and doors, and using a properly maintained air purifier. People can also avoid adding indoor pollution, such as smoke, while keeping rooms reasonably ventilated when outdoor conditions improve.

The article directly supports using air-cleaning devices: Courts says customers were seeking solutions for healthier, more comfortable homes, while Gain City reported sharply higher purifier demand. Families should also maintain filters, because polluted air can make filtering equipment work harder. The article documents this effect clearly for oxygen concentrators.

These measures reduce exposure but do not remove the wider hazard. Experts quoted in the article say the key is to reduce exposure now, particularly for children. During prolonged haze, households should monitor local air-quality guidance and seek medical help for serious breathing symptoms; this advice extends beyond the article’s specific details.

The article does not explain what causes Southeast Asia’s recurring haze. Established environmental knowledge identifies large vegetation, forest, and peat fires as a major source in the region. These fires produce smoke and fine particles that can remain in the atmosphere, reducing air quality over broad areas.

The haze can cross national borders because winds carry smoke away from the original fires. Weather conditions can spread and concentrate the pollution across neighboring countries, so the place experiencing unhealthy air may not be where the fires began. This regional movement helps explain why haze affects multiple Southeast Asian communities.

The article focuses on Malaysia’s health effects and equipment demand rather than the fires themselves. It says the company has experienced haze every year, but gives no cause or cross-border explanation. Therefore, the fire-and-wind explanation comes from established world knowledge, not from details stated in the supplied article.