Amresh Gunasingham Strait Times 4 Nov 10;
A NEW $30 million project aiming to help laboratories use an international standard of measuring chemicals was announced yesterday.
It is hoped the scheme will allow Singapore to communicate more effectively with its neighbours when assessing the impact of haze pollution on society.
The need for all countries to be on the same page on this issue was underscored during the recent haze episode. Currently, Singapore and Malaysia use different ways of measuring air quality. The two systems can leave open to interpretation the extent to which poisonous gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are found in the haze, will affect their communities and their neighbours.
The new project could in future help policymakers and business leaders in the pharmaceutical and food industries, for example, assess safety standards between countries using a common standard.
For decades, scientists have been working furiously to find a way for countries to be able to use the common system of measuring chemicals, known as the International System of Units (SI). As Singapore touts itself as a chemical and biomedical hub, the National Metrology Centre set up under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research will work with the Health Sciences Authority to improve laboratories' competence in this field.
Announcing the initiative at the Orchard Hotel yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education S. Iswaran said it will build up the quality and accuracy of measuring devices in key sectors here such as petrochemicals and forensics.
'Manufacturers, suppliers and consumers rely on the accuracy and reliability of measurements made at different stages of production and distribution,' he said.
Dr Lee Loke Chong, executive director of the NMC, added: 'When there are implications for trade and commercial issues, there needs to be a common standard that countries can use to make sure they speak the same language.'
