Haze update Oct 9: Singapore's PSI forecast to enter 'very unhealthy' range for the first time this year10月9日雾霾最新消息：新加坡空气污染指数（PSI）预计将首次进入“非常不健康”级别，这将是今年以来的首次。
For the first time since the National Environment Agency (NEA) began providing daily haze situation updates from Sept 4, Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is forecast to be in the very unhealthy range.Over the last 35 editions, PSI has either been in the moderate range, or up to unhealthy.On Friday (Oct 9), NEA said that moderate to dense smoke...
For the first time since the National Environment Agency (NEA) began providing daily haze situation updates from Sept 4, Singapore's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is forecast to be in the very unhealthy range.
Over the last 35 editions, PSI has either been in the moderate range, or up to unhealthy.
On Friday (Oct 9), NEA said that moderate to dense smoke haze from southern and central Sumatra was observed to drift towards Singapore, while smoke haze was also observed in parts of Kalimantan.
In addition, the agency noted that while showers are forecast over Singapore and parts of the surrounding region over the weekend, dry conditions are expected to persist over parts of southern Sumatra and parts of Kalimantan.
"Under the prevailing south-easterly or south-westerly winds, smoke haze may continue to drift towards Singapore.
"The 24-hour PSI for Singapore is forecast to be in the unhealthy to low-very unhealthy range."
At 6pm, PSI ranged from 135 in northern Singapore to 192 in the central region, stepping close to the very unhealthy range .
The next highest readings were recorded in western (187), southern (167) and eastern (166) Singapore.
Meanwhile, one-hour PM2.5 was in the elevated band across all five regions, with western Singapore recording the highest concentration reading of 123.
This was followed closely by the eastern region at 114.
What to do when PM2.5 is high
Concentration readings between 56 to 150µg/m3 fall within the elevated band, while readings between 151 and 250 are in the high-band.
If PM2.5 concentration reading enters the high-band, healthy people should avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour, while vulnerable persons should avoid all outdoor activity for the next hour.
Members of the public should check the latest one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings before participating in outdoor activities.
What happens if PSI becomes 'very unhealthy'
Readings of 201 to 300 denote very unhealthy range.
Preschools and schools have measures in place to safeguard the wellbeing of students, including 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.
自新加坡国家环境局 (NEA) 于 9 月 4 日开始每日发布雾霾情况更新以来，新加坡 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 预计将首次达到非常不健康的水平。
在过去的 35 个版本中，PSI 要么处于中等水平，要么达到不健康的程度。
10 月 9 日星期五，新加坡国家环境局表示，苏门答腊南部和中部地区出现的中度至重度烟霾正向新加坡飘移，加里曼丹部分地区也出现了烟霾。
此外，该机构指出，虽然预计周末新加坡及周边地区将有阵雨，但苏门答腊南部部分地区和加里曼丹部分地区预计将持续干燥天气。
“在盛行的东南风或西南风的影响下，烟雾可能会继续向新加坡飘去。”
“预计新加坡24小时空气污染指数（PSI）将处于不健康至轻微不健康范围内。”
下午 6 点，新加坡北部地区的 PSI 指数为 135，中部地区的 PSI 指数为 192，接近非常不健康的范围。
新加坡西部（187）、南部（167）和东部（166）的读数次之。
与此同时，所有五个地区的 PM2.5 一小时浓度均处于较高水平，其中新加坡西部地区的浓度读数最高，达到 123。
紧随其后的是东部地区，排名第 114 位。
PM2.5浓度高时该怎么办？
浓度读数在 56 至 150µg/m3 之间属于升高范围，而读数在 151 至 250 之间则属于高范围。
如果 PM2.5 浓度读数进入高位，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。
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。
如果PSI变得“非常不健康”会发生什么？
读数在 201 到 300 之间表示非常不健康。
幼儿园和学校都采取了措施来保障学生的健康，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。