NEA presses Jakarta as PSI hits 153

Today Online 7 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE — The island was engulfed by unhealthy levels of smog yesterday, prompting the National Environment Agency (NEA) to request the Indonesian authorities to take immediate action to suppress the forest fires in Sumatra and provide urgent updates on the situation.

The latest bout of haze could see the recently-enacted Transboundary Haze Pollution Act come into force. Under the Act, which commenced on Sept 25, an offence would be deemed to have occurred if the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in any part of Singapore hits 101 or more — venturing into the unhealthy range and beyond — for a 24-hour period or longer.

The hazy conditions were expected to persist today. In a haze situation update issued at 8pm yesterday, the NEA said overall air quality over the next 24 hours is expected to be in the unhealthy range of between 101 and 200. As of 11pm, the 24-hour PSI reading was 91 to 107.

Throughout yesterday, residents across the island complained of a burning smell. Visibility was also affected. The three-hour PSI reading rose steadily in the morning and reached the unhealthy range at 1pm. Air quality then worsened in the evening, with the three-hour PSI hitting a high of 153 at 7pm — the highest reading since the air quality reporting was tweaked in April to incorporate levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5.

The NEA attributed the hazy conditions to smoke haze blown in from central Sumatra by the prevailing south-westerly winds.

Widespread smoke haze was also visible in the southern and eastern parts of Kalimantan. The number of hot spots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan yesterday was 97 and 74, respectively.

The agency said the Republic had been affected by haze since late morning yesterday, with elevated PM2.5 levels in all parts of the island.

At one point, the one-hour concentrations of PM2.5 rose to 131 microgrammes per cubic metre in the southern part of Singapore, way past its normal levels of between 20 and 40 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The NEA said given the air-quality forecast for today, healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while the elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

Those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Those who do not feel well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

Singapore was hit by its worst bout of haze in June last year, when the PSI levels skyrocketed to an unprecedented 401.

Over the past weeks, the haze has returned on several occasions, with air quality reaching unhealthy levels — notably during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend last month.

PSI hits unhealthy range, conditions 'expected to persist': NEA
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 6 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE: The Republic's air quality reached unhealthy levels on Monday (Oct 6), after days of relatively clear skies. The air quality reached levels understood to be the worst since a new air quality reporting system - which takes into account fine particulate matter - was implemented in April this year.

Monday's 3-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading was 136 as of 9pm, after hitting a high of 153 at 7pm.

The hazy conditions are "expected to persist overnight" and into Tuesday, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). "The overall air quality for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the high-end of moderate and unhealthy range," added the NEA. The 24-hr PSI was at 9pm stood at 84-98, in the moderate range.

"PM2.5 levels are elevated in all regions of Singapore, with the 1-hr concentrations of PM2.5 rising to 131μg/m3 in the southern region of Singapore," said the NEA in an advisory, adding that "the haziness was due to smoke haze from a nearby source in central Sumatra, being blown in by the prevailing southwesterly winds".

It said 97 hotspots were detected in Sumatra on Monday, 74 of which were in Kalimantan. The agency said it has requested for an "urgent update" of the situation on the ground from Indonesian authorities and has also asked them to take immediate action to suppress the fires.

The 3-hour PSI reading of 153 is understood to be the worst since the NEA implemented a new air quality reporting system in April, which incorporates PM2.5 levels - or fine particulate matter concentrations - into its readings. It is also the highest PSI level since the haze made a reappearance in September.


The three-hour PSI reading stayed in the moderate range in the morning, but climbed steadily to cross into the 'unhealthy' range at 1pm, with a reading of 104. Callers to the Channel NewsAsia's hotline also complained of a strong burning smell in the air in the central and southern parts of Singapore, while residents in the west complained about poor visibility.

NEA has encouraged Singaporeans to reduce outdoor activities and physical exertion to "help limit the ill effects from haze exposure". "Given the air quality forecast for tomorrow, healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion," said the NEA.

"The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention."

However, Monday's haze did not stop many from taking advantage of a long weekend to enjoy outings with friends and family.

At the East Coast Park, a popular beach area, many were seen indulging in some family time, such as taking a dip in the water and enjoying water sports. However, some stall holders at the nearby East Coast Lagoon Food Village said that their afternoon business had been affected by about 10 per cent, with many regular joggers and families choosing to stay indoors after seeing hazy skies.

- CNA/av/al


Air quality ‘unhealthy’: 3-hour PSI level reaches 153 at 7pm
Today Online 6 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE – Air quality entered the unhealthy range today (Oct 6), with the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching 153 at 7pm, the highest in the latest bout of haze to hit Singapore in recent weeks.

The three-hour PSI crept upwards steadily from the morning, rising from the mid-50s to 88 at noon, first breaching the unhealthy level at 1pm. The 3-hour PSI then continued rising. At 8pm, the three-hour PSI was at 149. The 24-hour PSI at 8pm for overall Singapore was 83-94.

In an update at 8pm, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the PM2.5 levels are elevated in all regions of Singapore, with the one-hour concentrations of PM2.5 rising to 131μg/m3 in the southern region of Singapore. "The haziness was due to smoke haze blown in from central Sumatra by the prevailing southwesterly winds," said the NEA. Earlier on today, the NEA noted the "significant deterioration in the air quality in most regions of Singapore".

A total of 97 and 74 hotspots were detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan, respectively, today. Smoke haze from central Sumatra continued to be blown by the prevailing winds across the Straits of Malacca towards Singapore and the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Widespread smoke haze is also visible in the southern and eastern parts of Kalimantan.

The NEA said it "has requested the Indonesian authorities for an urgent update on the ground situation in Sumatra, and to take immediate action to suppress the fires".

Hazy conditions in Singapore are expected to persist overnight. For tomorrow, the prevailing winds are forecast to blow from the south or south-west, and hazy conditions can still be expected for Singapore. The overall air quality for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the unhealthy range.

The NEA advised that given the air quality forecast for tomorrow, healthy persons should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. The elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while those with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Persons who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.

A PSI reading of 101 to 200 falls within the unhealthy range, while a 51 to 100 reading is considered moderate.

Facebook user Davy Devaraj said the air at upper thomson has a "strong burning smell", while Twitter user @1RSingapore said a there was a "strong burning smell" in the air at Yew Tee at about 2.50pm. Twitter user @isnani said the haze is "very bad today. You can see it. You can smell it."

Hazy holiday as PSI hits highest reading this year
Marissa Lee, Cheryl Faith Wee, Linette Heng My Paper AsiaOne 7 Oct 14;

The haze descended on Singapore again yesterday and looks set to continue today.

Air quality reached the worst levels so far this year with the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index at an unhealthy 153 at 7pm yesterday.

At such levels, healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Older folk, pregnant women and children should minimise such activity, while those who do not feel well or have chronic lung or heart conditions should avoid it.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that the pollution was due to smoke haze blown from central Sumatra by prevailing south-westerly winds. This is expected to continue today, with overall air quality expected to be in the unhealthy range.

The total number of hot spots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan was 97 and 74 respectively, said the NEA yesterday.

The levels of PM2.5, which are small, toxic particles, were also elevated across the island yesterday, with the one-hour concentration of the particles rising to 131 micrograms per cubic metre in the southern areas at 6pm. A reading above 55mcg is considered unhealthy.

Before yesterday, the highest three-hour PSI reading this year was 129 last month. Last year's record was 401 in June.

Even so, activities at mosques over the Hari Raya Haji holiday went on smoothly yesterday. "Everything went well," said Imam Habib Hassan of Ba-Alwie Mosque in Bukit Timah. "Most of the prayers were held indoors, so there was no problem."

Some businesses with outdoor activities, however, saw a dip in customers. Italian restaurant Casa Verde, which has outlets in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, had a 20 to 30 per cent drop in customers yesterday, while cable-ski park Ski360 Degree in East Coast Park said sales dropped by around 10 per cent.

But the pollution failed to deter many people, who were determined to stay outdoors and enjoy the public holiday.

When The Straits Times visited Orchard Road yesterday afternoon, the outdoor walkways were packed.

And in the evening, around 400 people showed up for band performances at the Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Promenade.

Housewife Cheren Wong, 47, was there with her two sons, aged 15 and 17. "It was okay, as long as the PSI did not climb to over 200," she said. "If it continues to climb, it will definitely be a concern."

PSI readings of 201 to 300 are considered very unhealthy, and people are advised to wear an N95 mask if they have to be outdoors for several hours.