Haze Worsens in Singapore; Air Quality Hits Unhealthy
Level
By Chia-Peck Wong
Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The air quality in Singapore deteriorated
overnight to unhealthy levels as smoke haze from forest fires in
Indonesia thickened, the National Environment Agency said in a
statement today.
The pollutants standards index had reached ``unhealthy'' levels in
city-state as of 8 a.m. local time today, according to the agency's
Web site, which provides readings every hour. The index reached a
high of 130 at 10 a.m., before dipping to 128 one hour later. An
index reading of 101 to 200 is considered unhealthy.
The latest satellite pictures showed there were 506 hot spots and
thick smoke haze on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the agency
said in the e-mailed statement. ``The prevailing winds are
transporting the smoke haze toward the Malacca Strait, Peninsular
Malaysia and Singapore,'' it said.
Smoke from forest fires in Malaysia and Indonesia cloud the region
annually during the dry season from around July to October as
farmers clear land for cultivation by setting fire to trees and
bushes. The worst occurred in 1997 and 1998, causing economic
losses of almost $9 billion in Southeast Asia as travelers shunned
the region and health-care costs increased.
Today's 24-hour pollutants standards index is expected to be in the
unhealthy range today, the National Environment Agency said,
advising the general population to reduce vigorous outdoor
activity.
A reading of 51 to 100 is considered moderate. Air quality of 201
to 300 is deemed very unhealthy and readings exceeding 301 are
deemed hazardous.
