Haze in Singapore: PM2.5 in central region hits ‘high’ band briefly, air quality remains unhealthy
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- Singapore’s haze worsened air quality across the island, with the 24-hour PSI still in the unhealthy range on Oct 10 and PM2.5 levels elevated in all five regions.
- NEA said healthy people should cut back on long or hard outdoor activity, while vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and children, should avoid it.
- The haze task force prepared for PSI above 200 with N95 mask distribution, reduced school and pre-school outdoor activities, and possible limits on outdoor sports.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – The current air quality across the island continued to deteriorate in the afternoon, with the PM2.5 reading increasing across the board and crossing into the ‘high’ range in the central region on Oct 10.
At 3pm, it hit 151 in the central region, which includes the Thomson, Marymount, Sin Ming, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Serangoon Gardens, MacRitchie and Toa Payoh areas, according to the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) website.
The reading in the region returned to the elevated band at 4pm, though, going down to 142. Readings in the other regions at 4pm also remained in the elevated band.
An hourly PM2.5 reading - used to plan for activities within the next hour - between 56 and 150 indicates an elevated concentration of fine particles, while that between 151 and 250 is considered high.
At 7pm, readings in all five regions – north (63) south (72) east (73) west (98) and central (107) – remained in the same elevated range.
Hazy conditions seen from the roof garden of SkyVille@Dawson at 5.09pm on Oct 10.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
The highest PM2.5 reading so far this haze season, 171, was recorded in the west on Oct 9.
Meanwhile, the 24-hour PSI readings saw a slight fall compared to earlier in the day – north (118), south (128), east (150), west (152) and central (168) – and remained in the unhealthy range at 7pm.
At 7am, the readings had been: north (125), south (141), east (157), west (162) and central (176).
Air quality is considered unhealthy when the PSI – a 24-hour rolling average of six key air pollutants – is in the range of 101 to 200.
The PSI had hit a high for 2026 on Oct 9, reaching 192 in the central region between 5pm and 8pm.
In its Oct 9 daily advisory, the National Environment Agency (NEA) had forecast the PSI for Oct 10 to lie in the “unhealthy to low very unhealthy range”.
When the 24-hour PSI readings are in the unhealthy range, those who are healthy should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities, according to the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) haze advisory.
Hougang United football players training at Our Tampines Hub at about 10am on Oct 10.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Vulnerable people – including the elderly, pregnant women, children and those with chronic lung or heart disease – should minimise or avoid such activities entirely.
When PM2.5 readings are high, people should avoid strenuous outdoor activities for the next hour. Vulnerable people should avoid all outdoor activities.
The government’s haze task force announced a series of measures on Oct 9 should the PSI exceed 200 and move into the very unhealthy range.
The task force, which includes agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Sport Singapore, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health, said that N95 masks will be distributed to eligible Singaporeans who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze or who may have limited means of obtaining them.
In schools, classroom lessons will continue but might be modified and outdoor activities will be curtailed.
For children in pre-schools, all outdoor activities and strenuous indoor activities will cease.
Sport organisers and facility operators were also urged to consider modifying or suspending activities held outdoors and in non air-conditioned facilities.
The task force last issued an update on Sept 4, when air quality in Singapore breached unhealthy levels for the first time since October 2023.
