PSI could go over 300 before haze improves once inter-monsoon period starts: Grace Fu

The Singapore Flyer shrouded in haze on Oct 16 at 11.23am.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Published Oct 16, 2026, 05:32 PM

Updated Oct 16, 2026, 05:32 PM

SINGAPORE – The haze in Singapore might reach hazardous levels, with PSI readings exceeding 300, in the coming days due to weather conditions, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Oct 16.

However, the inter-monsoon period – which is slated to begin in three to four weeks’ time – will likely improve the air quality, she told reporters during a press conference she co-chaired with Education Minister Desmond Lee and Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau.

“When the north-east monsoon brings wind… around early December, any haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan will blow in the direction away from Singapore,” Fu said.

The Republic has endured its longest stretch of poor air quality since 2015 – Oct 16 marked the 12th consecutive day it registered unhealthy Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings.

The PSI has five bands: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (>300).

As it is calculated across 24 hours, Fu said the reading is useful for assessing sustained exposure.

People should refer to the PSI in tandem with the other measurement of air quality, the hourly PM2.5 readings, she added.

PM2.5 readings, which are measured in micrograms per cubic metre and used as a gauge for current air quality, provide useful information about current conditions, she said.

A PM2.5 reading of 0 to 55 is normal, 56 to 150 indicates an elevated concentration of fine particles, 151 to 250 is considered high, and scores above 251 are classified as very high.

Fu said a high 24-hour PSI reading and a low PM2.5 reading indicate that current conditions have improved, although prolonged exposure is still a concern.

Conversely, a low 24-hour PSI reading and a high PM2.5 measurement show that conditions have recently worsened, even though the longer-term average has not increased.

As such, Fu advised the public to look at the 24-hour PSI reading to plan for activities the next day, adding that she had asked the National Environment Agency (NEA) to make the information clearer on its website.

For activities on the day itself, she advised individuals to refer to the hourly PM2.5 reading, and to adapt their plans as needed.

“For individuals, the decision (on) what activity you can undertake will depend on where you are, because different regions have different readings,” she said.

Other factors to consider include the type of activity, including whether it involves prolonged exposure outdoors, as well as each person’s health and physical condition.

Stressing the importance of taking necessary precautions, Fu also said Singapore residents could check in on family members and friends who may be more vulnerable to the haze, including seniors, pregnant women, young children, as well as those with chronic conditions.

Community clubs across Singapore had started distributing N95 masks to vulnerable people on Oct 14, and about 10% of eligible Singaporeans have collected them so far.

Mask vending machines were being progressively deployed across the island, and would be available at 37 public transport hubs and social service offices by the end of Oct 16.

Although masks may be temporarily unavailable at some retail stores due to the increase in demand, Fu stressed that there is sufficient supply, both in retailers’ warehouses and the Government’s stockpile.

“We will undertake another round of mask distribution if the haze situation warrants it,” she said.

Aqil Hamzah is a transport journalist at The Straits Times. He is also interested in issues related to crime and technology.

Environmental issues

Health and well-being

10月16日上午11点23分，新加坡摩天观景轮笼罩在雾霾之中。

ST 照片：林耀辉

发布于 2026 年 10 月 16 日下午 5:32

更新于2026年10月16日下午5:32

新加坡——新加坡永续发展及环境部长傅海燕于10月16日表示，由于天气原因，新加坡的雾霾在未来几天可能会达到危险水平，PSI读数将超过300。

不过，她告诉记者，预计在三到四周后开始的季风间歇期可能会改善空气质量。她是在与教育部长李智陞和人力部代部长刘嘉敏共同主持的新闻发布会上表示的。

“当东北季风在12月初带来风的时候……来自苏门答腊和加里曼丹的任何雾霾都会被吹离新加坡的方向，”傅先生说。

该国经历了自 2015 年以来最长的空气质量恶劣时期——10 月 16 日是连续第 12 天记录到不健康的污染物标准指数 (PSI) 读数。

PSI 分为五个等级：良好（0-50）、中等（51-100）、不健康（101-200）、非常不健康（201-300）和危险（>300）。

傅先生表示，由于该读数是按 24 小时计算的，因此可用于评估持续暴露情况。

她补充说，人们应该将PSI值与空气质量的另一项衡量指标——每小时PM2.5读数——结合起来参考。

她表示，PM2.5读数以每立方米微克为单位进行测量，用作衡量当前空气质量的指标，可提供有关当前状况的有用信息。

PM2.5 读数在 0 到 55 之间为正常，56 到 150 之间表示细颗粒物浓度升高，151 到 250 之间被认为是高浓度，而高于 251 的分数则被归类为非常高浓度。

傅先生表示，24 小时 PSI 读数高，PM2.5 读数低，表明目前的情况有所改善，但长时间暴露仍然令人担忧。

相反，24 小时 PSI 读数低和 PM2.5 测量值高表明，即使长期平均值没有增加，情况最近也恶化了。

因此，傅女士建议公众查看 24 小时 PSI 读数，以便安排第二天的活动，并补充说她已要求国家环境局 (NEA) 在其网站上提供更清晰的信息。

对于当天的活动，她建议大家参考每小时的 PM2.5 读数，并根据需要调整计划。

“对于个人而言，你能进行哪些活动取决于你所在的地区，因为不同地区的读数不同，”她说。

其他需要考虑的因素包括活动的类型，例如是否涉及长时间在户外活动，以及每个人的健康状况和身体状况。

傅海燕强调采取必要预防措施的重要性，并表示新加坡居民可以关心那些可能更容易受到雾霾影响的家人和朋友，包括老年人、孕妇、幼儿以及患有慢性疾病的人。

新加坡各地的社区俱乐部从 10 月 14 日开始向弱势群体分发 ​​N95 口罩，目前约有 10% 的符合条件的新加坡人领取了口罩。

口罩自动售货机正在全岛逐步部署，到 10 月 16 日结束时，将在 37 个公共交通枢纽和社会服务办公室提供口罩自动售货机。

尽管由于需求增加，一些零售店可能会暂时缺货口罩，但傅强调，无论是零售商的仓库还是政府的储备，口罩供应都很充足。

“如果雾霾情况需要，我们将再次进行口罩发放，”她说。

阿基尔·哈姆扎是《海峡时报》的交通记者。他也对犯罪和科技相关议题感兴趣。

环境问题

健康与福祉