{"id":88972,"date":"2026-09-30T05:01:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T21:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88972"},"modified":"2026-09-30T05:01:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T21:01:01","slug":"haze-in-spore-unhealthy-air-quality-with-high-pm2-5-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=88972","title":{"rendered":"Haze in S&#8217;pore: Unhealthy air quality with high PM2.5 levels"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary article-summary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013<!-- --> The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading in the central region here reached a new peak this haze season early on<!-- --> Sept 29<!-- -->, as air quality across Singapore breached the unhealthy band for the first time in two weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The PSI reading \u2013 a 24-hour rolling average of six key air pollutants and used in planning for outdoor activities the next day \u2013 in <!-- -->central Singapore stood at 155 at 7am<!-- -->, surpassing the previous high of 154 on Sept 15.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The reading for the area further increased to<!-- --> 164 at 10am<!-- -->, a new high since the PSI first returned to the unhealthy range due to the haze on Sept 4.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Sept 15 was also the last time the readings in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/air-quality-in-all-5-regions-of-singapore-in-the-unhealthy-range?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">all five regions here surpassed the 101 threshold<\/span><\/a> into the unhealthy range.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The PSI reading in the north was 101 at 7am, up from 98 an hour earlier, joining the <!-- -->south (129), east (128), west (139) and central (155)<!-- --> regions, which had entered the unhealthy range the night before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At 9pm on Sept 29, the PSI readings in all five regions stayed above the 101 threshold in the unhealthy range. The reading in the central region was highest at 145, followed by the west (136), east (133), south (113), and north (105).<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base st_visuals st_visuals-embed\" title=\"st_visuals embed\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/multimedia\/graphics\/2026\/08\/singapore-haze-widget\/index.html\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;falseclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"eager\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The one-hour PM2.5 readings, which are used as a gauge for immediate activities, also remained largely elevated nationwide, having all crossed into this band at 11pm on Sept 28.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">However, these readings are generally on the downward trend, having peaked at a range of <!-- -->85 to 165<!-- --> at midnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The PM 2.5 reading for the north returned to the normal band since 11am, while readings in the other regions continued to fluctuate between elevated and normal levels during the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">As at 9pm on Sept 29, only the PM2.5 reading in the south (52) was in the normal band, with readings in the four other regions ranging from 60-77.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Air quality is considered unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI is between 101 and 200, while an hourly PM2.5 reading between 56 and 150 indicates an elevated concentration of fine particles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 24-hour PSI re-entered the unhealthy range on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/haze-in-spore-air-quality-returns-to-moderate-levels?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">the night of Sept 28<\/span><\/a>, with the <!-- -->south (103) and central (104)<!-- --> areas crossing the threshold reading at 8pm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">At 9pm<!-- -->, the west also entered the unhealthy range with a reading of <!-- -->101<!-- -->. This was joined by the east at <!-- -->midnight, with a reading of 103<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:1080 \/ 1350\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/131c227bcbd6097fe818b224ffff2ca9b78cc628b863dd90bb56df2fb5835b55?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/131c227bcbd6097fe818b224ffff2ca9b78cc628b863dd90bb56df2fb5835b55?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/131c227bcbd6097fe818b224ffff2ca9b78cc628b863dd90bb56df2fb5835b55?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/131c227bcbd6097fe818b224ffff2ca9b78cc628b863dd90bb56df2fb5835b55\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/131c227bcbd6097fe818b224ffff2ca9b78cc628b863dd90bb56df2fb5835b55\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">\u2018Didn\u2019t even dare to open the windows\u2019<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Some residents took to social media to comment on the hazy conditions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the CloudSpotting &amp; SkySpotting Singapore Facebook group, user Jess Thia said she could \u201ctaste the bitterness\u201d when she cracked open a window in a unit on a high floor at about 1am on Sept 29.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Meanwhile, user Prettyplushy Jamm, in a Sept 29 post sharing pictures of the smog, said she \u201cdidn\u2019t even dare to open the windows\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In another picture post sharing a hazy night view late on Sept 28, with a location tag of St Thomas Walk in River Valley, user Krittika Samaddar said: \u201cFeeling terrified, never seen such haze during night time before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Jalan Besar GRC MP Shawn Loh said in a Facebook post on the morning of Sept 29 that Residents\u2019 Network centres in Whampoa-Boon Keng, which are fully air-conditioned, are open for public use from 10am to about 9pm daily.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Whampoa and Kallang community clubs are also open daily, from 10am to about 9pm, for residents who need shelter from the haze, Loh said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe haze has gotten worse. Many residents, especially seniors and students who are studying for their exams, are understandably concerned. We will take action as a community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">NEA advisory<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In its daily haze advisory at about<!-- --> <!-- -->6.20pm on Sept 29, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said air quality in Singapore for the next 24 hours was forecast to be in the high moderate to mid-unhealthy range.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It said that dry conditions are expected to persist over southern Sumatra and parts of Kalimantan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While showers are forecast over Singapore on <!-- -->Sept 30,<!-- --> smoke haze may still affect the island with the prevailing winds expected to blow from the east or south-east, NEA said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For periods when the air quality crosses into the unhealthy range, NEA has advised healthy people to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, while vulnerable groups like the elderly, children and pregnant women, as well as people with chronic lung or heart disease, should minimise or avoid such activities altogether.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The PSI first returned to the unhealthy range due to the haze on Sept 4, the first time since October 2023.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why this year\u2019s haze in Singapore could be as bad as 2015\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NzYyUPVfVQM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base podcast aspect-landscape podcast-embed\" title=\"podcast embed\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/green-pulse-1\/playlists\/green-pulse\/embed\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;falseclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"eager\" height=\"500\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/haze-in-singapore-air-quality-in-4-of-5-regions-unhealthy-pm2-5-readings-elevated-across-island\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading in the central region here reached a new peak this haze season early on Sept 29,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=88972"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88972\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/88973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=88972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=88972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=88972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}