PSI drops to lowest in days, 85 at 4pm

PSI drops to lowest in days, 85 at 4pm

SINGAPORE - After days of severe smog covering the city, the haze situation appears to be improving gradually as it came down to 85 at 4pm on the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).

At the same time yesterday, the PSI stood at 145, and the day before the PSI stood at 253.

The 24 hour average PSI at 3pm was in the 167 to 187 range, a dip from the 170 to 193 range it was in an hour earlier, and the 172 to 197 range it was at 2pm. The PM2.5 concentration, which measures very fine particles, was 217 to 254 micrograms per cubic metre.

The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has started to provide the 24-hour PSI averages at hourly intervals. Previously, the 24-hour averages were updated three times a day at 8am, 12 noon and 4pm.

In an advisory issued yesterday, NEA said that hazy conditions are still expected over the weekend, as dry conditions and winds from the southwest or west are likely to persist. The 24-hour PSI for the rest of the day is expected to be in the 'very unhealthy' band of 201 to 300, NEA said in a forecast for June 22.

HEALTH ADVISORY

Healthy people

  • Avoid prolonged/strenuous outdoor physical exertion
  • Wear N95 mask if prolonged and strenuous outdoor activity is unavoidable

Elderly, pregnant women and children

  • Avoid all outdoor activity
  • Wear N95 mask if prolonged outdoor activity is unavoidable

People with chronic medical conditions especially lung or heart disease

  • Avoid all outdoor activity
  • Wear N95 mask if prolonged outdoor activity is unavoidable

Those who are not feeling well are advised to seek medical attention.

Employers are advised to provide suitable respirators to all employees carrying out outdoor work. They should also deploy susceptible employees to work indoors, preferably doing work which is not physically strenuous.

MOH has activated the hospitals to prepare for the anticipated increase in the number of cases of asthma, bronchitis and conjunctivitis.

For more haze updates from AsiaOne, click here:

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