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Haze set to get worse, hit ‘unhealthy’ range

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).

The PSI crept into the low end of the unhealthy zone for several hours in the morning and evening today (Sept 6). Photo: Ray Chua

The PSI crept into the low end of the unhealthy zone for several hours in the morning and evening today (Sept 6). Photo: Ray Chua

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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.

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