Channel NewsAsia 27 Mar 13;
SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said hazy skies in Singapore are due to more hotspots in the northern South-East Asian region experiencing the traditional dry season.
"This has led to an increased concentration of particulate matter such as dust particles in the air over the region, including Singapore," it said in a statement, adding that weakening winds over Singapore in the past few days have added to the current hazy situation.
The NEA said the PSI as of 4pm on Wednesday is in the good to moderate range of between 39 and 53.
The hazy condition is expected to persist over the next few days, and NEA will continue to monitor the situation.
- CNA/xq
Overseas hot spots contributed to haze: NEA
Grace Chua Straits Times 28 Mar 13;
SMOGGY skies the previous two nights were not just due to Tuesday's shipyard fire at Jurong and the blaze that gutted several motorcycles at Hougang.
Rather, dust particles and other particulate matter have drifted over from hot spots in Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, which are going through their dry season, said the National Environment Agency.
"With the weakening of winds over Singapore in recent days, the accumulation of increased particulate matter in the air could have led to the current hazy condition," explained an NEA spokesman.
Winds are light and variable during the current inter-monsoon period between the North-East and South- West monsoons, which typically lasts from late March to May.
At 4pm yesterday, the PSI, a measure of air pollution, was between 39 and 53, in the good to moderate range. The level of PM2.5, or very fine particulate matter, was between 25 and 39 micrograms per cubic metre.
While those levels did not trigger any health advisories for the general population, those who are unusually sensitive to haze should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion, the NEA said.
The hazy condition is expected to persist over the next few days and NEA will continue to monitor the situation, said a spokesman.
Mr Dave Liew, a 43-year-old artist, complained of a scratchy throat and headaches since Monday.
"It's like an assassin," he said. "It gets you before you can actually see it."
Air quality readings and health advisories are available at http://www.nea.gov.sg/psi, or at the Weather@SG website http://weather.nea.gov.sg, on Twitter @NEAsg, by calling 1800 CALL NEA (1800 2255 632), or via the myENV iPhone or Android app.
