Today Online 6 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE — There will be no let-up from the haze today, with air quality possibly climbing into the low end of the unhealthy range in the next 24 hours.
The haze descended on Singapore yesterday morning, with the three-hour Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) creeping over 100 for several hours, before improving over the course of the day.
As at midnight, the 24-hour PSI was 90-98. The National Environment Agency (NEA) attributed the haze to the spread of smoke from Sumatra and the surrounding region under light wind conditions. The reading had risen steadily over the course of the day from 77-83 at 9am.
The number of hot spots fell to only six yesterday, down from 50 on Friday and 111 on Thursday but widespread smoke haze was observed in central and southern Sumatra.
The NEA said it still expects occasional hazy conditions today, with the 24-hour PSI for the next 24 hours fluctuating in the high end of the moderate range (51 to 100) to the low end of the unhealthy (101 to 200) range.
Event organisers are watching the lacklustre air quality closely.
Outdoor events taking place this weekend and the next include two Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship matches this evening at the Jalan Besar Stadium, while the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix is in two weeks.
Asked what their contingency plans were should the haze take a turn for the worse, and whether they were concerned about an impact on turnout, event organisers TODAY spoke to said they were monitoring the situation before deciding to activate any plans.
A Football Association of Singapore spokesperson said: “The safety and well-being of players is of utmost importance to the FAS and we are closely monitoring the haze situation together with the AFC. Should the haze in Singapore worsen considerably, a decision will be taken by AFC match officials on the most appropriate course of action, in the best interests of all parties.”
Netball Singapore chief executive officer Cyrus Medora said in previous years, it had postponed events when the PSI hit unhealthy levels.
“Some of players had wanted to continue and some didn’t, but we still said no,” he said. “(Our policy) is generally the same this time, and we will continue to monitor (the situation).”
The Pesta Sukan Netball Carnival will be held on Sept 12.
The People’s Association said its grassroots activities will carry on as the air quality is still within healthy range. “PA will continue to monitor the haze situation and stand guided by the 24-hour PSI forecast and health advisory issued by the NEA. As far as we know, there has been no drop in the number of people participating in our activities,” a spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the Formula One Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix said the possibility of haze is ne of the many potential issues that are covered in its contingency plan.
“The plan was formulated and refined with stakeholders, government bodies and the Formula One community. In the event that the haze causes visibility, public health or operational issues Singapore GP would work closely with the relevant agencies before making any collective decisions regarding the event.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ADELENE WONG
Haze set to get worse, hit ‘unhealthy’ range
Today Online 6 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE — The haze that has shrouded Singapore for the past week is expected to get worse tomorrow with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) likely to move into the “Unhealthy” (101-200) range, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (Sept 6).
If winds are unfavourable, the reading may deteriorate further as air quality drops, added the agency.
Today, the 24-hour PSI crept into the low end of the unhealthy zone for several hours in the morning and evening.
At 8pm, the 24-hour PSI was 93-106, in the high end of the moderate range (51-100) and the low end of the unhealthy range due to haze that was blown into Singapore from Sumatra by prevailing winds, said the NEA.
Widespread moderate to dense smoke haze was observed in southern and central Sumatra, and the haze has spread to the sea south of Singapore, added the environment agency.
The decline in air quality yesterday came after a week when the 24-hour PSI fluctuated mostly in the moderate range due to forest and plantation fires in Sumatra.
Despite the thickening haze, just one hotspot was detected in Sumatra today — down from six yesterday, 50 on Friday and 111 on Thursday.
The NEA attributed the low hotspot count to a “partial satellite pass” — a situation where an orbiting satellite is still passing over the area being monitored.
Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, healthy people 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.
Those who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.
Event organisers told TODAY on Saturday that they are watching the air quality closely.
NEA: Expect hazy conditions today
Audrey Tan Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Sep 15;
HAZY conditions are expected today, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday.
The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) - a measure of air quality - for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the low to middle section of the unhealthy range and may further deteriorate if the winds are unfavourable, NEA said in an 8pm statement.
Prevailing winds are also forecast to blow from the south or south-west today.
Yesterday, air quality crept into the unhealthy range from as early as 3am yesterday morning, with the 24-hour PSI registering readings of between 92 and 100 across Singapore.
NEA said the occasionally hazy conditions were due to haze being blown in from Sumatra by prevailing winds.
At 9pm, the 24-hour PSI readings across Singapore ranged from 93 to 106, in the high end of the moderate range and low end of the unhealthy range.
The 24-hour PSI remained close to this range throughout most of yesterday.
When 24-hour PSI readings are below 100, normal activities can be carried out. But when they start to inch above 100, the authorities advise healthy people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities. The elderly, pregnant women and children should do as little of such activities as possible, while those suffering from chronic lung or heart disease should not engage in these activities.
NEA said in a haze situation update on Saturday that haze experienced in Singapore was due to "the spread of haze from Sumatra and the surrounding region under light wind conditions".
Widespread smoke haze was also observed in central and southern Sumatra, the agency said.
