Haze watch Oct 9: Central Singapore PSI rises to record 191, just shy of 'very unhealthy' range

Air quality in the Republic is deteriorating towards the very unhealthy range, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in central Singapore rising to 191 by 4pm on Friday (Oct 9) afternoon, up from 181 at noon.

The latest reading marks a new high for 2026, surpassing the record of 181 set earlier in the day and placing air quality just 10 points away from the very unhealthy range.

At 4pm, PSI in all five regions remain in the unhealthy range, with the next highest reading of 183 recorded in western Singapore.

Readings of 201 to 300 denote the very unhealthy range.

Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 concentrations remained in the elevated band in all five regions.

The highest concentration reading of 148 was recorded in western Singapore, followed by 145 in central Singapore.

Concentration readings between 56 to 150µg/m3 fall within the elevated band, while readings between 151 and 250 are in the high band.

When one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings are in the high band, healthy persons should avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour, while vulnerable persons should avoid all outdoor activity for the next hour.

Data from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre showed 162 hotspots in Kalimantan on Oct 8, while there were 314 hotspots detected in Sumatra.

What happens if PSI is 'very unhealthy'?

Preschools and schools have measures in place to safeguard the wellbeing of students. This includes adjusting outdoor activities and the use of air purifiers.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), it will consider closing schools when the air quality forecast for the next day is in the hazardous range. This occurs when PSI exceeds 300.

Any school closure will be announced at around the same time as the daily haze situation update in the evening, and schools will inform parents accordingly.

For now, with air quality in the unhealthy range, workplace safety remains a focus, and employers are urged to reduce the duration of prolonged or strenuous work for healthy employees.

For vulnerable workers, especially the elderly and pregnant women, they should minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor work, while those with chronic heart and lung conditions should avoid such work.

Employers should also provide suitable protective equipment, considering pollutants present in the work environment.

Members of the public should check the latest one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings before participating in outdoor activities.

新加坡的空气质量正在恶化，接近非常不健康的水平。截至周五（10 月 9 日）下午 4 点，新加坡中部 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 已升至 191，高于中午的 181。

最新读数创下 2026 年新高，超过了当天早些时候创下的 181 的纪录，空气质量距离非常不健康的范围仅差 10 个点。

下午 4 点，新加坡五个地区的 PSI 指数均处于不健康范围，其中新加坡西部地区的读数最高，为 183。

读数在 201 到 300 之间表示非常不健康。

与此同时，所有五个地区的 1 小时 PM2.5 浓度均处于较高水平。

新加坡西部记录到的最高浓度读数为 148，其次是新加坡中部，为 145。

浓度读数在 56 至 150µg/m3 之间属于升高范围，而读数在 151 至 250 之间属于高范围。

当一小时 PM2.5 浓度读数处于高位时，健康人群应在接下来的一个小时内避免剧烈的户外活动，而易感人群应在接下来的一个小时内避免所有户外活动。

东盟专业气象中心的数据显示，10 月 8 日加里曼丹岛有 162 个热点，而苏门答腊岛则检测到 314 个热点。

如果PSI“非常不健康”会发生什么？

幼儿园和学校都已采取措施保障学生的健康福祉，包括调整户外活动和使用空气净化器。

根据教育部规定，当次日空气质量预报显示空气质量达到危险级别时，将考虑停课。这种情况发生在空气污染指数（PSI）超过300时。

任何学校停课通知都将在傍晚发布每日雾霾情况更新的同时公布，学校也会相应地通知家长。

目前，由于空气质量处于不健康范围，工作场所安全仍然是关注的重点，并敦促雇主减少健康员工长时间或剧烈工作的时间。

对于体弱的劳动者，特别是老年人和孕妇，应尽量减少长时间或剧烈的户外工作，而患有慢性心脏和肺部疾病的人应避免从事此类工作。

考虑到工作环境中存在的污染物，雇主还应提供合适的防护设备。

公众在参加户外活动前，应查看最新的1小时PM2.5浓度读数。