Burning smell set to be reduced with rain: NEA

Timothy Goh Straits Times 29 Mar 19;

The burning smell reported across the island over the past two months may soon occur less frequently, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.

On Feb 8, residents living in several parts of eastern Singapore, including Tampines, Bedok and Pasir Ris, reported a "strong burning smell" similar to haze. The source of the smell was later traced to a landfill fire in south-eastern Johor, which was later extinguished.

Complaints about the smell continued through mid-February and March, however, due to other fires and hot spots in the region.

NEA said yesterday that it has continued to receive feedback from the public about the burning smell in various areas of Singapore.

The agency said that hot spots with smoke plumes have been occasionally detected in southern Johor, which is experiencing dry and hot weather during the current dry phase of the north-east monsoon. The intermittent burning smell in many areas over the past weeks was the result of these smoke plumes.

However, inter-monsoon conditions are forecast to set in around early April, and an increase in showers is expected over the surrounding region. This will help reduce the occurrence of the burning smell in the next one or two weeks, said NEA. It added that since 11pm on Wednesday, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) across Singapore has ranged from 52-67, which is in the "moderate" range, while the one-hour PM2.5 readings ranged between 1 and 53 micrograms per cu m (mcg/m3), in the "normal" range.

The agency said that given the current air quality, everyone can continue with their normal activities.

NEA added it is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates on any significant changes.


‘Burning smell’ in the air should lessen in 2 weeks: NEA
AMANDA EBER Today Online 29 Mar 19;

SINGAPORE — If you have been detecting a burning smell in the air, it is because of smoke plumes from Johor, Malaysia, and this should get better over the next one or two weeks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.

With Southern Johor having hot, dry weather due to the dry phase of the north-east monsoon, a number of hotspots with smoke plumes in the area have resulted in an “intermittent burning smell” in many parts of Singapore over the past few weeks, NEA said in a statement on Thursday (March 28).

However, inter-monsoon conditions — meaning an increase in rain showers — are expected in early April, and this should help to reduce the occurrence of the burning smell, it added.

In terms of air quality, the NEA reported that as of 8.24pm on Thursday, the Pollution Standards Index across Singapore has ranged from 52 to 67 — in the moderate range.

The hourly readings for PM2.5 have been in the Band I (Normal) range since 11pm on Wednesday night.

PM2.5 are tiny particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometres or microns in size and are pollutants associated with haze.

Given the present air quality, the public can continue with their normal activities, NEA added.

Separately, there were concerns over the readings displayed on the World Air Quality Index website (aqicn.org), where PM2.5 levels in Singapore were shown to have reached unhealthy levels at some periods in the last 24 hours.

The NEA clarified on its website that aqicn.org relies on NEA’s own PM2.5 data.

Aqicn.org also uses a different computing system from NEA and the two systems are not comparable.

“We are closely monitoring the air quality and will provide updates on any significant changes to the air quality situation,” NEA said in its statement.