Haze watch Oct 21: PM2.5 levels normal in north, east and south Singapore

Singapore is bracing for what could be up to two days of poor air quality, with winds forecast to blow from the east-southeast to south-east — again transporting smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan to the city state.

In its daily haze situation update on Oct 20 evening , the National Environment Agency (NEA) said showers are expected over the northern and western regions and the surround region.

However, dry conditions are likely to persist over the southern parts of Kalimantan over the next few days.

"Under prevailing east-southeasterly to southeasterly winds, smoke haze may drift from fires in Kalimantan towards Singapore," NEA said.

The 24-hour Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) forecast for Singapore is 110 to 180 — in the unhealthy range.

At 9am on Wednesday (Oct 21), hourly PM2.5 in the northern (42), eastern (53) and southern (41) regions are in the normal band (0 to 55µg/m3). PSI in these areas were also in the moderate range (PSI 0 to 100).

Meanwhile, concentration readings in western and central Singapore were 70 and 81 respectively.

PSI in the two regions were in the unhealthy range.

Members of the public should check the latest hourly PM2.5 readings before participating in any outdoor activities.

PM2.5-based outdoor work guidance

The Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday provided employers with additional guidance to adjust outdoor work based on the hourly PM2.5 readings .

It is intended to complement existing guidelines based on the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast, the ministry stated.

Under the additional guidance, all outdoor activities can go on as planned when PM2.5 is in the normal band (0 to 55μg/m3), but there are now activity references across for healthy and vulnerable workers when concentration readings reach the elevated (56 to 150), high (151 to 250) and very high (251 and above) bands.

Employers are reminded to review their haze management plans.

These include identifying workers who are more susceptible to the effects of haze, determining which outdoor activities should be reduced or rescheduled; setting criteria for restricting outdoor work as conditions worsen, and maintaining at least a one-week supply of masks as part of their haze-related business continuity plans.

新加坡正准备应对可能持续两天的空气质量不佳的情况，预计风向将从东南偏东吹向东南——再次将加里曼丹岛火灾产生的烟雾带到这个城市国家。

国家环境局（NEA）在10月20日晚间发布的每日雾霾情况更新中表示，预计北部和西部地区及周边地区将有阵雨。

然而，未来几天加里曼丹南部地区可能仍将持续干旱天气。

新加坡国家环境局表示：“在盛行的东南偏东风至东南风的影响下，加里曼丹岛火灾产生的烟雾可能会飘向新加坡。”

新加坡 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 预测值为 110 至 180，处于不健康范围内。

周三（10月21日）上午9点，北部（42）、东部（53）和南部（41）地区的PM2.5小时浓度均处于正常范围（0至55µg/m3）。这些地区的空气污染指数（PSI）也处于中等范围（PSI 0至100）。

与此同时，新加坡西部和中部地区的浓度读数分别为 70 和 81。

这两个地区的PSI值均处于不健康范围。

公众在参加任何户外活动前，应查看最新的PM2.5每小时读数。

基于PM2.5的户外工作指南

人力部周二向雇主提供了更多指导，要求他们根据每小时的 PM2.5 读数调整户外工作。

该部表示，此举旨在补充现有的基于 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 预测的指导方针。

根据补充指导，当 PM2.5 处于正常范围（0 至 55μg/m3）时，所有户外活动均可按计划进行；但当浓度读数达到升高（56 至 150）、高（151 至 250）和非常高（251 及以上）范围时，现在对健康和易感人群的活动都有相应的参考标准。

请各用人单位检修其雾霾管理计划。

这些措施包括：确定哪些工人更容易受到雾霾的影响；确定哪些户外活动应该减少或重新安排；制定在情况恶化时限制户外工作的标准；以及作为与雾霾相关的业务连续性计划的一部分，至少储备一周的口罩。