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Hazy skies and burning smell across Singapore
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A hazy view of the apartment blocks at Lake View, in front of Macritchie Reservoir. (The Straits Times/Stephanie Yeow)
T
he haze appears to be back in Singapore, as netizens posted on social media photos of the hazy Singapore skyline and commented on the burning smell across the island on Friday.
As at 9 a.m., the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) was 46- 58, reaching the moderate level, according to the National Environmental Agency's (NEA) website.
The three-hour PSI - an indicative reading not tied to a health advisory - was 90.
The 24-hour PSI started to rise since 3am.
The 1-hour PM2.5 reading hit 100 in northern Singapore at 9am, followed by 94 in the west. The reading is the lowest in the eastern part of the island at 39.
In July, NEA introduced new bandings and descriptors for the one-hour concentration readings of fine particles called PM2.5- a major pollutant in smoke haze.
The Straits Times understands that they were introduced after members of the public suggested having a guide to PM2.5 readings after last year's haze episode.
However, the bands do not state what levels are healthy or not, unlike the 24-hour PSI, which is used by the authorities here as the reference for health advisories.
Singapore experienced one of the worst haze outbreaks last September when PSI almost hit hazardous levels, forcing schools to close.
The 24-hour PSI reading then was between 219 and 270, in the very unhealthy range. A PSI reading above the 300-point mark is considered hazardous.
