Wildfire smoke from Indonesia has driven a sharp rise in demand for oxygen equipment and air purifiers across Southeast Asia, as prolonged haze affects air quality, disrupts schools and raises concerns about respiratory health.
The months long haze has spread across parts of the region, prompting families to seek ways to improve indoor air quality. Medical equipment suppliers and consumer electronics retailers have reported significant increases in sales as pollution levels remain a concern.
AA Alive a medical equipment company based near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia reported a 35 per cent increase in sales of oxygen equipment during the haze. The company supplies oxygen tanks and oxygen concentrators to patients who need respiratory support.
An oxygen tank can provide a continuous supply for around three hours, while an oxygen concentrator can operate for approximately 24 hours. However, pollution is also affecting equipment maintenance. According to an AA Alive technician, filters in oxygen concentrators that would normally be replaced after around 1,000 hours of use are experiencing roughly half that lifespan because of pollutants in the air.
The company currently delivers about 40 rented oxygen units a day and says it has been able to meet increased demand because it has experience dealing with seasonal haze.
Retailers have also reported a significant rise in air purifier purchases. Consumer electronics retailer Courts recorded a 600 per cent increase in air purifier sales between September 28 and October 12 compared with the same period last year.
Singapore based retailer Gain City reported a similar trend, saying demand began rising in recent weeks and increased sharply from October 9. Sales had climbed to nine times the level recorded at the beginning of the haze season in August.
Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to haze pollutants can cause inflammation and pose risks to multiple body systems. Juliana Jalaludin, a professor specialising in environmental health at Universiti Putra Malaysia expressed concern that repeated exposure to haze and air pollution, particularly during childhood, could increase the long term burden of respiratory illness.
She stressed that reducing exposure now is important to protect children’s health and limit potential consequences for future generations.
The surge in demand highlights the growing public health concerns associated with recurring wildfire haze across Southeast Asia. While oxygen equipment and air purifiers can provide support in specific circumstances, experts emphasise the importance of reducing exposure to polluted air to protect health over the long term.