Air quality unhealthy in most of Singapore on Oct 25, PM2.5 readings normal everywhere
Only the south's 24-hour PSI fell outside the unhealthy band, at 98 at 11am, while other regions read between 104 and 129, according to CNA.
According to CNA, fine-particle readings were normal everywhere in Singapore on Sunday (Oct 25), even though the air was rated unhealthy in most parts of the country.
Only the south had a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) figure that fell outside the unhealthy band. At 11am, the south's reading was 98, after it slipped to 100 an hour earlier and left the unhealthy range. The other regions stayed in the unhealthy band, with readings between 104 and 129.
The Straits Times reported that four of the five regions had 24-hour PSI readings between 107 and 132 at 10am.
Hourly PM2.5 readings in the normal band
All five regions had hourly PM2.5 readings in the normal band, between 20 and 39.
What the National Environment Agency expects
NEA's advisory issued on Saturday evening projected that Sunday's 24-hour PSI would land somewhere from 80 to 130, a span that takes in both the good to moderate range and the unhealthy range. Showers expected over Singapore and the surrounding region could ease haze conditions, NEA said, while winds forecast to blow out of the west or southwest might restrict how much smoke haze drifts to Singapore. On Monday and Tuesday, the southwesterly or westerly winds are forecast to persist. "With showers expected over Singapore and the vicinity, the haze situation is likely to improve," said NEA.
Health advice
Before heading out for immediate outdoor activities, people are advised by NEA to look up the latest 1-hour PM2.5 readings, and when planning outdoor activities they should consult the forecast for the 24-hour PSI.
NEA's Sunday advice was that healthy people should cut back on outdoor physical exertion that is prolonged or strenuous, and that the elderly, pregnant women and children should keep such activities to a minimum. Anyone suffering from chronic heart or lung disease is advised to steer clear of strenuous or prolonged physical exertion outdoors.
Healthy individuals should cut back on strenuous activities outdoors for the following hour whenever the hourly PM2.5 level falls in the elevated band. During that period, strenuous outdoor activities should be avoided by vulnerable groups, which include children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic heart or lung conditions.
