Singapore haze: Air quality very unhealthy in central region
At 3pm, the 24-hour PSI in central Singapore hit 229, a new high for the year.
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SINGAPORE: Air quality worsened across Singapore overnight, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading in the very unhealthy range in the central region on Friday (Oct 16).
The east and west regions were also earlier in the very unhealthy range.
Central Singapore was the first to cross into the very unhealthy band at midnight, and its 24-hour PSI climbed to 229 at 3pm – the highest reading recorded this year. At 8pm, the region recorded a reading of 222.
The east and west entered the very unhealthy band at 10am, with readings of 202 and 201 respectively. At 8pm, the regions drifted back into the unhealthy range with readings of 198 and 200 respectively.
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Air quality remained unhealthy in the other two regions, with 8pm readings of 159 in the north and 183 in the south.
Hourly PM2.5 readings were elevated in most regions of Singapore, with the exception of the north which recorded a reading of 44 in the normal range in the hour.
At 8pm, the 1-hour PM2.5 readings for central, east, west and south regions were 148, 119, 130 and 141 respectively.
NEA said in its advisory on Friday evening that it forecasts Saturday's PSI to range from 150 to 230 in the unhealthy to very unhealthy band.
The PSI forecast and corresponding health advisories should be used for planning next day outdoor activities.
The 1-hour PM2.5 reading should be referred to for immediate outdoor activities.
NEA said dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan continued to drift towards Singapore under prevailing southeasterly winds. Smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.
The transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore on Saturday may be reduced with winds forecast to blow from the southeast or south-southeast, the agency added.
On Sunday and Monday, the transport of smoke haze from Kalimantan to Singapore could be further decreased with winds expected to gradually weaken and blow from the southeast or south, NEA said, although some smoke haze from Sumatra may drift towards Singapore.
Singapore has now endured nearly two weeks of unhealthy air quality in at least part of the island.
The last time all five regions recorded moderate air quality simultaneously was at midnight on Oct 5, when 24-hour PSI readings ranged from 77 to 100.
The most recent instance of a region seeing moderate air quality was at 1am on Oct 9, when the PSI in the north stood at 100.
Friday also marks six weeks since Singapore recorded its first unhealthy 24-hour PSI reading of the year.
On Friday afternoon, national sports agency Sport Singapore said that outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities at all ActiveSG sport centres had been temporarily closed amid the current haze situation.
The move marked an expansion of earlier closures, which had affected only selected ActiveSG facilities.
Singapore saw a sharp spike in hourly PM2.5 readings across Singapore on Wednesday. In the west, readings remained in the very high band for much of the period between 2pm and 8pm, peaking at 288 – a level not seen in Singapore since 2015.
During the severe haze episode in October 2015, the western region recorded an hourly PM2.5 reading of 471 at 11pm on Oct 19.
That remains the highest figure in the National Environment Agency's (NEA) publicly available hourly PM2.5 records, which date back to April 2014.
The 2015 haze episode lasted from August to October, with the 24-hour PSI reaching a hazardous 322 on Sep 25. All primary and secondary schools were closed that day.
BASE MASK-WEARING ON HOURLY PM2.5 READINGS: MOH
Amid the worsening conditions, the government on Wednesday brought forward the phased distribution of masks to vulnerable Singaporeans after the PM2.5 reading in the west reached the very high band.
Under the Ministry of Health's (MOH) latest haze advisory, members of the public are advised to refer to 1-hour PM2.5 readings, rather than the 24-hour PSI, when deciding whether to wear a mask for immediate outdoor activities.
The 1-hour PM2.5 reading provides a more immediate indication of air quality, while the 24-hour PSI forecast remains the basis for planning activities the following day.
MOH said vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should avoid outdoor activities when hourly PM2.5 readings are in the high band of 151 to 250.
Those who need to go outdoors for immediate activities may wear a well-fitting N95 mask or equivalent to reduce their exposure to haze particles.
When PM2.5 readings reach the very high band of 251 and above, healthy individuals should also minimise all outdoor activities. Those who need to venture outdoors may similarly use an N95 mask for protection.
However, MOH said N95 masks are generally not needed for commuting between home and school or work, or in indoor environments.
The ministry also cautioned that elderly people, pregnant women and those with severe heart or lung conditions who experience breathing difficulties should consult their doctor before using an N95 mask.
Those who experience discomfort while wearing one should take a break from using it.
Besides N95 masks, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks are also effective in reducing exposure to haze particles, MOH said.
Members of the public can visit the HazeMaskGoWhere website for more information on collection locations and live updates on mask availability at the vending machines.
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