Air quality in Singapore improves; 1-hour PM2.5 readings normal in most regions

At 3pm, the 24-hour PSI remained unhealthy in the west and central regions.

A view of the haze from central Bishan as air quality shows slight improvement on Oct 21, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)

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SINGAPORE: Air quality in Singapore improved slightly overnight into Wednesday (Oct 21), with hourly PM2.5 readings in the normal range in four regions at 3pm.

Northern Singapore had the lowest reading at 24, while the west, the only region in the elevated band, had the highest at 65.

Hourly PM2.5 levels in the central region fluctuated overnight, dipping into the normal band at 3am and rising back into the elevated band at 7am. Its reading returned to the normal band at 1pm.

Meanwhile, the east climbed into the elevated band at 6am before returning to the normal band at 7am. Its hourly PM2.5 reading rose into the elevated band again at 10am but fell back into the normal range an hour later.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less The hourly PM2.5 reading in the north briefly entered the elevated range at 12pm before falling back to normal. The south has remained in the normal range throughout the day. At 3pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) remained unhealthy in western and central Singapore.

The hourly PM2.5 reading in the north briefly entered the elevated range at 12pm before falling back to normal. The south has remained in the normal range throughout the day.

At 3pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) remained unhealthy in western and central Singapore.

FORECAST TO REMAIN UNHEALTHY

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Tuesday evening that the air quality in Singapore is forecast to remain unhealthy on Wednesday, with the PSI expected to range from 110 to 180.

In its Wednesday morning advisory, NEA said that widespread hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and southern Sumatra, with moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze observed over Singapore.

While the hotspot and smoke haze situation may improve in areas experiencing showers, the situation is expected to remain elevated in fire-prone regions experiencing prolonged dry conditions, with a continued risk of severe transboundary haze occurrence.

Singapore saw a brief improvement in air quality on Monday, when PSI readings fell into the moderate range in three of the country's five regions for the first time in more than a week.

Before Monday, the last time Singapore recorded moderate air quality was on Oct 9.

ADVICE FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

When the 24-hour PSI is in the unhealthy range, NEA advises the elderly, pregnant women and children to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

People with chronic diseases, including heart or lung conditions, should avoid such activities.

For decisions on mask use and immediate outdoor activities, the public should refer to the one-hour PM2.5 readings instead.

When the 1-hour PM2.5 readings are in the high band, vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should avoid outdoor activities, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Those who need to go outdoors for immediate activities may wear a well-fitting N95 mask or equivalent to reduce their exposure to haze particles.

When 1-hour PM2.5 readings reach the very high band of 251 and above, healthy individuals should also minimise all outdoor activities. Those who need to venture outdoors may similarly use an N95 mask for protection.

However, MOH said N95 masks are generally not needed for commuting between home and school or work, or in indoor environments.

The ministry has also advised the elderly, pregnant women and those with severe heart or lung conditions who experience breathing difficulties to consult their doctor before using an N95 mask.

Those who experience discomfort while wearing one should take a break from using it.

Besides N95 masks, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks are also effective in reducing exposure to haze particles, according to MOH.

Members of the public can visit the HazeMaskGoWhere website for more information on collection locations and live updates on mask availability at the vending machines.

MOH had also issued guidance on Oct 13 on the types of masks that can be used for protection against haze.

It said surgical masks can help reduce discomfort and the risk of infections by providing a barrier against larger irritant particles.

However, if PM2.5 readings are above 250 and people need to be outdoors for several hours, MOH recommends wearing an N95 or equivalent mask.

Cloth masks generally do not filter fine particles effectively, although they can reduce discomfort by blocking larger irritant particles in the air.

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下午3点，西部和中部地区的24小时PSI指数仍然处于不健康水平。

2026年10月21日，碧山中心城区的雾霾景象，空气质量略有改善。（图片：CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：新加坡的空气质量在周三（10 月 21 日）凌晨略有改善，下午 3 点，四个地区的 PM2.5 小时读数均处于正常范围内。

新加坡北部读数最低，为 24，而西部（唯一处于高位带的地区）读数最高，为 65。

中部地区PM2.5的每小时浓度在夜间出现波动，凌晨3点降至正常范围，早上7点又升至偏高范围。下午1点，其读数恢复到正常范围。

与此同时，东部地区早上6点PM2.5浓度升至较高水平，7点回落至正常水平。上午10点，东部地区PM2.5小时浓度再次升至较高水平，但一小时后又回落至正常范围。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 中午12点，北部地区的PM2.5小时读数短暂进入超标范围，随后回落至正常水平。南部地区全天保持在正常范围内。下午3点，新加坡西部和中部地区的24小时空气污染指数（PSI）仍然处于不健康水平。

北部地区PM2.5小时浓度读数在中午12点短暂升高，随后回落至正常水平。南部地区全天均保持在正常范围内。

下午 3 点，新加坡西部和中部地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 仍然处于不健康水平。

预计健康状况将持续不佳

新加坡国家环境局（NEA）周二晚间表示，预计新加坡周三的空气质量仍将不健康，PSI指数预计将在110至180之间。

新加坡国家环境局周三上午发布的公告称，加里曼丹岛和苏门答腊岛南部检测到大范围热点，新加坡上空出现中度至重度跨境烟霾。

虽然降雨地区的火灾热点和烟雾情况可能会有所改善，但在持续干旱的易燃地区，情况预计仍将居高不下，并存在发生严重跨境烟雾的风险。

周一，新加坡的空气质量出现短暂改善，该国五个地区中的三个地区的空气污染指数（PSI）读数一周多以来首次降至中等水平。

在周一之前，新加坡上一次空气质量达到中等水平是在10月9日。

给弱势群体的建议

当 24 小时 PSI 处于不健康范围时，新加坡国家环境局建议老年人、孕妇和儿童尽量减少长时间或剧烈的户外体力活动。

患有慢性疾病（包括心脏病或肺病）的人应避免进行此类活动。

对于是否佩戴口罩以及是否立即进行户外活动，公众应参考一小时 PM2.5 读数。

根据卫生部 (MOH) 的说法，当 1 小时 PM2.5 读数处于高位时，包括老年人、孕妇和患有慢性心脏或肺部疾病的人在内的弱势群体应避免户外活动。

那些因紧急情况需要外出的人可以佩戴贴合度良好的 N95 口罩或同等防护等级的口罩，以减少接触雾霾颗粒。

当1小时PM2.5读数达到251及以上的高值区间时，健康人群也应尽量减少所有户外活动。必须外出的人群同样可以佩戴N95口罩进行防护。

然而，卫生部表示，一般情况下，往返家和学校或工作场所的通勤途中，或在室内环境中，不需要佩戴 N95 口罩。

该部还建议老年人、孕妇以及患有严重心脏或肺部疾病且出现呼吸困难的人在使用 N95 口罩前咨询医生。

如果佩戴时感到不适，应暂停使用。

卫生部表示，除了 N95 口罩外，KN95、FFP2 和 KF94 口罩也能有效减少接触雾霾颗粒。

公众可以访问 HazeMaskGoWhere 网站，了解更多关于口罩收集地点和自动售货机口罩供应情况的实时更新信息。

卫生部也于 10 月 13 日发布了关于可用于防雾霾的口罩类型的指导意见。

报告称，外科口罩可以阻挡较大的刺激性颗粒，从而帮助减少不适感和感染风险。

但是，如果 PM2.5 读数超过 250，并且人们需要在户外待几个小时，卫生部建议佩戴 N95 或同等口罩。

布口罩通常不能有效过滤细小颗粒，但可以通过阻挡空气中较大的刺激性颗粒来减轻不适感。

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