24-hour PSI readings remain at good to moderate level across Singapore

The National Environment Agency has said it expects the 24-hour PSI to be in the unhealthy range on Friday.

A view of Bedok Reservoir as air quality improved on the morning of Oct 19, 2026. (File photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)

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SINGAPORE: Air quality across Singapore remained in the good to moderate range on Friday (Oct 22), with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings in all five regions staying within that band.

As of 7am, the PSI readings ranged from 67 to 90.

Air quality across the country returned to the good and moderate level on Thursday after the PSI reading in the west dropped at 3pm.

Readings across all regions were last at this level on Oct 5.

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 Hourly PM2.5 readings remained within the normal range in all regions at 7am, ranging from 20 to 52.

Hourly PM2.5 readings remained within the normal range in all regions at 7am, ranging from 20 to 52.

UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY FORECAST

On Thursday evening, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said most smoke haze from Kalimantan and Sumatra remained south of Singapore due to northeasterly and easterly winds.

The agency added that it expected the PSI to be in the unhealthy band on Friday, ranging from 101 to 150.

"As dry conditions are expected to persist over the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan, smoke haze may be transported towards Singapore under prevailing southeasterly winds," it said.

Smoke haze might also drift over from Sumatra on Saturday due to expected southeasterly or southerly winds.

"However, showers over Singapore and the vicinity could help with the situation," it said.

NEA added that hazy conditions were expected to improve on Sunday due to showers and favourable winds.

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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国家环境局表示，预计周五的24小时空气污染指数（PSI）将处于不健康范围。

2026年10月19日上午，勿洛蓄水池空气质量改善，景色宜人。（资料照片：CNA/林丽婷）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：周五（10 月 22 日），新加坡各地的空气质量保持在良好至中等水平，五个地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 读数均在该范围内。

截至早上 7 点，PSI 读数在 67 到 90 之间。

周四下午 3 点西部地区的空气污染指数下降后，全国空气质量恢复到良好和中等水平。

所有地区的读数上次达到这一水平是在10月5日。

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 小小的谜题，强大的脑力挑战 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 早上 7 点，所有地区的 PM2.5 小时读数均保持在正常范围内，范围从 20 到 52。

早上 7 点，所有地区的 PM2.5 小时读数均在正常范围内，范围从 20 到 52。

空气质量预报显示空气质量可能不健康

周四晚间，国家环境局（NEA）表示，由于东北风和东风的影响，来自加里曼丹和苏门答腊的大部分烟雾仍然停留在新加坡以南。

该机构补充说，预计周五 PSI 将处于不健康区间，介于 101 至 150 之间。

“由于苏门答腊岛和加里曼丹岛南部地区预计将持续干燥天气，烟雾可能会在盛行的东南风的作用下向新加坡方向飘移，”声明中写道。

预计周六将刮东南风或南风，届时苏门答腊岛的烟雾也可能飘过来。

“不过，新加坡及其周边地区的降雨可能会有助于缓解这种情况，”声明中写道。

国家环境局补充说，由于降雨和顺风，预计周日雾霾情况将有所改善。

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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