Haze update Oct 14: PM2.5 enters 'Very High' range in parts of Singapore; PSI forecast to worsen

Air quality in the Republic deteriorated throughout Wednesday (Oct 14) afternoon, with one-hour PM2.5 concentrations entering the "Very High" band in some parts of Singapore.

Given the possibility that the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) may enter the Very Unhealthy range, the Government on Wednesday afternoon announced that it has commenced the phased distribution of N95 masks to vulnerable Singaporeans .

Haze shelters at community clubs and selected Residents' Committee and Residents' Network centres have also been activated.

The same afternoon, Sport Singapore announced the temporary closure of outdoor and non-aircon ActiveSG facilities in the eastern, central and western regions as a precautionary measure.

At 7pm, one-hour PM2.5 concentrations remained in the "Very High" band in the western (269µg/m3) region, while concentration readings in central (229), southern (166) and eastern (164) Singapore were in the High band.

Only the northern region was in the elevated band, with a concentration reading of 96µg/m3.

Meanwhile, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) climbed to 190 in western Singapore.

The next highest PSI readings were in the central (178) and eastern (172) regions.

Readings of between 101 and 200 are in the unhealthy range, while readings ranging from 201 to 300 are in the very unhealthy range.

24-hour PSI forecast

In its daily haze situation update on Wednesday evening, the National Environment Agency said the country's 24-hour PSI forecast is expected to be in Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy range.

It noted that dense smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan was observed to drift towards Singapore under the prevailing southeasterly winds, while smoke haze was also observed over Sumatra.

And although showers are forecast over the Republic on Thursday, dry conditions over southern Sumatra and Kalimantan, coupled with the prevailing winds, mean that dense smoke haze is expected to continue drifting towards Singapore overnight and on Thursday.

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

When concentration readings reach the "Very High" band, healthy persons should minimise all outdoor activities for the next hour.

In such conditions, vulnerable persons, including those with chronic lung or heart disease, are advised to avoid all outdoor activities for the next hour.

10 月 14 日星期三下午，新加坡共和国的空气质量持续恶化，部分地区的 PM2.5 一小时浓度达到“非常高”级别。

鉴于 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 可能进入“非常不健康”范围，政府于周三下午宣布，已开始分阶段向弱势新加坡人分发 N95 口罩。

社区俱乐部和部分居民委员会及居民网络中心的雾霾避难所也已启用。

当天下午，新加坡体育理事会宣布暂时关闭东部、中部和西部地区的室外及无空调ActiveSG设施，作为一项预防措施。

晚上 7 点，新加坡西部地区一小时 PM2.5 浓度仍处于“非常高”级别（269µg/m3），而新加坡中部（229）、南部（166）和东部（164）地区的浓度读数处于“高”级别。

只有北部地区处于高浓度带，浓度读数为 96µg/m3。

与此同时，新加坡西部地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 攀升至 190。

PSI读数第二高的地区是中部（178）和东部（172）地区。

读数在 101 到 200 之间属于不健康范围，而读数在 201 到 300 之间属于非常不健康范围。

24小时PSI预测

国家环境局在周三晚间发布的每日雾霾情况更新中表示，该国24小时空气污染指数（PSI）预计将处于不健康至非常不健康范围内。

报告指出，加里曼丹岛火灾产生的浓烟在盛行的东南风作用下向新加坡飘去，同时苏门答腊岛上空也出现了烟霾。

虽然预计周四新加坡会有阵雨，但苏门答腊南部和加里曼丹的干燥天气，加上盛行风向，意味着浓烟预计将在周四夜间继续向新加坡飘移。

公众在参加任何户外活动前，应查看最新的1小时PM2.5浓度读数。

当注意力读数达到“非常高”级别时，健康的人应在接下来的一个小时内尽量减少所有户外活动。

在这种情况下，建议包括患有慢性肺病或心脏病在内的弱势群体在接下来的一个小时内避免所有户外活动。