Why are air purifier sales rising in Singapore?
Sales are trending because the Pollutant Standards Index has remained above 101 since October 5. Experts warn that standard air conditioners and indoor plants cannot effectively remove the tiny PM2.5 particles found in haze.
What happened
- 5 Oct
Singapore begins its longest stretch of unhealthy air quality since September [1].
- 9 Oct
Authorities warn that air quality could reach 'very unhealthy' levels [1].
What you need to know
HEPA filters are designed to capture tiny haze particles [1].
Standard home air-conditioners mostly cool air rather than cleaning it [1].
When buying a purifier, check the clean air delivery rate and recommended room size [2].
Indoor plants are generally ineffective at removing fine particulate matter [1].
It is not confirmed if air quality has already breached 'very unhealthy' levels.
Background
The current haze is characterized by PM2.5, which are particles 30 times smaller than a human hair. These pollutants are dangerous because they can enter the bloodstream and lodge deep in the lungs [1].
Singapore tracks air quality using the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and one-hour PM2.5 readings. A PSI over 100 is considered unhealthy [1].
Questions people ask
Can my air-conditioner remove haze?
Generally no, as home filters usually only catch large dust particles, not tiny haze pollutants [1].
Do indoor plants help with the haze?
While they can absorb some gaseous pollutants, they cannot filter out fine particulate matter at a meaningful level [1].
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.