Air quality unhealthy, PSI hits highest in 2 years

SINGAPORE — Air quality has reached its worst in two years, prompting Singapore to register its concerns over the haze situation with Indonesia and offer assistance.

At midnight, the 3-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 211 while the 24-hour PSI was at 135-152. Hazy conditions are expected to persist.

These readings are the year’s highest so far, and exceed last year’s highest 3-hour PSI reading of 153 on Oct 6 and 24-hour PSI reading of 125 on Oct 7.

Air quality is considered to be unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI ranges from 101-200. The 3-hour PSI, which reflects the PM2.5 concentration levels averaged across 3 hours, is an indicative measure that is not tied to the Ministry of Health's health advisory.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that 328 hotspots were detected in Sumatra today, up from 140 yesterday. Haze was observed in central and southern Sumatra and some of it has spread to the sea areas east of Sumatra and south of Singapore, said the NEA. The 24-hour PSI for the next 24 hours is expected to be in the low to middle range of the unhealthy band, and may further deteriorate if the winds are unfavourable.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan today conveyed Singapore’s deep concern with the deteriorating haze situation to the Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, while Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu to reiterate the Singapore’s offer to assist Indonesia’s efforts in combating the forest fires in Sumatra. 

Dr Balakrishnan called for urgent actions to be taken, including stricter enforcement actions against the perpetrators. He also reiterated Singapore’s offer of an assistance package for Indonesia, and requested for information on those responsible for the haze so as to facilitate appropriate enforcement action, said the NEA.

As part of the overall haze assistance package, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have placed on standby a C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations, a Chinook helicopter with a water bucket for aerial fire-fighting, and up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) fire-fighting assistance team. 

“The SAF stands ready to support and assist the Indonesian military (TNI), which has been deployed to put out the fires,” said MINDEF in a statement.

Since 2005, Singapore has consistently offered haze assistance packages to Indonesia in the run-up to the traditional dry season from June to October. Singapore renewed its haze assistance offer to Indonesia in June this year.

HEALTH ADVISORY

Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, the NEA said 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.

In response to media queries, a spokesperson from the Elections Department (ELD) said voters who are heading out to cast their votes on Polling Day tomorrow are advised to take guidance from the NEA’s advisory issued, should haze levels remain in the unhealthy range.

“There are priority queues at polling stations for the elderly and disabled. Those who require any assistance or feel unwell should approach election officials at their respective polling stations,” said the ELD spokesperson. The 832 polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm.

To ensure the health and safety of some 30,000 election officials who will be on duty islandwide on Polling Day, ELD has also taken mitigating measures such as instituting adequate rest breaks and hydration for all officials.

Meanwhile, telco Singtel earlier today said it has activated its haze contingency plans, with some 5,000 N95 masks distributed to its staff who are required to work outdoors. The telco will be suspending outdoor work for its field operations staff and contract workers “should the haze situation worsen, reaching hazardous levels and affecting visibility”.

“We have advised our employees of the precautionary measures they should take based on the health authorities’ guidelines, such as reducing or avoiding outdoor activities to minimise their haze exposure,” said Singtel’s Group Chief Human Resources Officer Aileen Tan.