Channel NewsAsia 18 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE: The air quality in Singapore hovered in and out of the "unhealthy" range on Thursday (Sep 18), with the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading hitting a high of 106 at 4pm, according to data from the National Environment Agency (NEA).
The 3-hour PSI reading had hit the 100 range thrice on Thursday, registering 102 at 10am and 100 at 2pm, intermittently dipping below the "unhealthy" mark. It then climbed back to 104 at 10pm.
The 24-hour PSI reading has been creeping up as well, with the southern part of Singapore recording the highest reading of 103 as of 10pm on Thursday. The overall 24-hour PSI reading ranged between 93 and 103 at 11pm, the data showed.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said that he has written to his Indonesian counterpart to express Singapore's concern over the haze that has affected the Republic.
On his Facebook page, Dr Balakrishnan reiterated Singapore's offer of assistance to deal with the fires and hopes urgent action will be taken on the ground.
NEA said that the hazy conditions may be sustained over the next one or two days, as Kalimantan is expected to experience mostly dry conditions, and winds continue to blow from east or southeast. The overall air quality for the next 24 hours is expected to fluctuate between the high-end of the moderate range and the low-end of the unhealthy range.
In light of the air quality forecast, NEA advised people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activity. It said the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with chronic lung or heart disease should minimise or avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.
Haze measures: National Taxi Association to distribute masks, eyedrops to drivers
Channel NewsAsia 18 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE: With the haze hitting "unhealthy" levels this week, the National Taxi Association (NTA) announced it will distribute 1,000 bundle packs each consisting one N95 mask, two surgical masks and one small bottle of eyedrops to taxi drivers at Changi Airport on Thursday (Sep 18).
Channel NewsAsia understands that Member of Parliament Ang Hin Kee, who is advisor to the association, will lead the distribution at 2.30pm at Changi Airport Terminal 1. Members of NTA's executive committee will also be present.
The NTA serves all taxi drivers in Singapore. According to its website, it aims to "be the collective voice for taxi drivers in Singapore to further their interests and enhance their social and economic well-being." They currently have 18,000 members, the website states.
Air quality in Singapore has risen into "unhealthy" territory over the past two days, defined as a reading of between 101 and 200 on the Pollutant Standard Index. The National Environment Agency said this was likely due to smoke haze from the surrounding region being blown in by the prevailing winds.
- CNA/dl
Smoky haze hits Singapore race
Patrick Johnston Reuters 18 Sep 14;
(Reuters) - A smoky, 'unhealthy' haze has drifted over Singapore this week clouding the build-up to the city-state's glamour sporting spectacle - the Formula One night race.
Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) said air pollution had risen into the unhealthy range on Thursday after a wind change had brought smoke from forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra island.
The three-hour Pollution Standards Index rose above 100, the level at which the air is deemed unhealthy, at 3pm local time (0800 BST) on Thursday and continued to rise when the next two hourly readings were published.
The NEA advised on their website that "healthy people" should "reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion" when the haze levels reach over 100, which also happened on Monday.
The Williams team said in a preview of Sunday's race that the heat, humidity and length of the Singapore grand prix made it one of the most arduous on the Formula One calendar, with drivers losing over three kilogrammes over the 61 laps.
Rain is forecast over the next four days which should help reduce the pollution levels but race organisers said they would be monitoring the problem.
"In the event that the haze caused visibility, public health or operational issues, Singapore GP would work closely with the relevant agencies before making any collective decisions regarding the event," a Singapore GP spokesperson said.
Last year, smoke smothered Singapore, with pollution index levels reaching a record 401 in June. A mark over 300 is deemed hazardous.
In August, Singapore's parliament passed a bill proposing fines for companies that cause pollution regardless of whether the companies operate on the island, though it remains to be seen how the law can be enforced.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Air quality hovers around unhealthy level
Today Online 18 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE – Air quality hovered around the unhealthy level for most of today (Sept 18), with the three-hour Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) entering into the unhealthy range once in the morning and for a few hours in the afternoon.
The three-hour PSI reading was above 90 throughout the day, reaching 102 at 10am before dipping out of the unhealthy level. From 2pm, the three-hour PSI climbed steadily from 100 to reach 106 at 4pm, before falling back into the moderate range with a reading of 95 at 6pm.
The 24-hour PSI reading at 6pm was 95-99. An hour before it was 96-102. Air quality is in the moderate range when the PSI value is between 51 and 100, and is considered unhealthy when the PSI value is between 101 and 200.
Source: www.haze.gov.sg
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that the hazy conditions today were caused by transboundary haze from Kalimantan, with the prevailing winds blowing from the east or south-east. "Based on NOAA satellite data, there is widespread thick smoke haze in the southern parts of Kalimantan, which is also spreading to the southern parts of the South China Sea," said the NEA in its haze update.
"These hazy conditions in Singapore may be sustained over the next one to two days, as Kalimantan is expected to experience mostly dry conditions, and winds continue to blow from east or south-east," the agency added.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan has written to the Indonesia Minister of Environment Balthasar Kambuaya to express Singapore’s "deep concern over the transboundary haze from Indonesia that has affected Singapore", said the NEA. He also reiterated Singapore’s offer of assistance to the Indonesians to help deal with the fires.
Source: Dr Balakrishnan's Facebook page
The NEA said haziness may be experienced during the day tomorrow. The overall air quality for the next 24 hours is expected to fluctuate between the high-end of the Moderate range and the low-end of the Unhealthy range. Prevailing winds are expected to blow from the east or south-east, and thundery showers are forecast in the afternoon for Singapore.
Last night, the three-hour PSI tipped into the unhealthy range at 102 at 8pm after staying in the moderate range for most of the day.
Earlier this week, the NEA said that Singapore is expected to experience haze for the next two weeks due to prevailing wind conditions from the south-southeast or the south-west where Sumatra lies, with periods of consecutive dry days that are typical during this South-west Monsoon season.
