Channel NewsAsia 13 Feb 15;
SINGAPORE: The eastern part of Singapore is slightly hazier than the other regions on Friday morning (Feb 13), as the PSI reading showed it was at 78 while the others ranged between 57 and 61 at 8am, according to the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website.
The amount of PM2.5 pollutants in the east was also higher overnight, peaking at 79 at 3am before coming down to 78 at 8am, NEA data showed. The PM2.5 reading measures particulate matter of 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter.
Channel NewsAsia also received pictures and feedback from residents in the east on our Facebook and Twitter platforms stating it is hazy and smoky.
Facebook user Tay YL told us at 7.32am that it was "very hazy and smoky at Bedok", while another Facebook user Nicolas Ng said "there is a very thick haze smell in Bedok South".
Twitter user @DillonLFC7 also said there was "definitely a strong smell" of burning and haze in the Tampines area. Another Twitter user @vzmahajan said there was "poor visibility" at Pasir Ris Drive 6 at 7.20am.
ST readers complain of strong burning smell in the east of Singapore
LEE MIN KOK Straits Times 12 Feb 15;
SINGAPORE - A strong burning smell was prevalent in the eastern part of Singapore on Thursday evening.
An ST reader wrote in to say she detected the smell while riding on the MRT from Tanah Merah station towards Pasir Ris.
Twitter user @theGretL claimed it smelt like burning plastic, while readers staying in Siglap, Bedok, Pasir Ris and East Coast Road said they were affected as early as 6.30pm.
As of 9.30pm, the Singapore Civil Defence Force confirmed that there had been no fires reported in the affected areas.
A check on the National Environment Agency's app MyEnv revealed that that the hourly PM2.5 reading in the east peaked at 44 at 9pm, an unusually high reading compared to the other parts of Singapore. It dropped down to 30 at 10pm. The PM2.5 reading for the north, west and central at 9pm hovered at 16 and the south registered 5.
PM2.5 are small, toxic particles that can be emitted by forest fires, vehicles, power plants, refineries, ships and aircraft, and to a lesser extent by construction and land reclamation.
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