Singapore Air Quality Unhealthy Ahead Of Grand Prix Weekend

By Anas Abu Hassan

SINGAPORE, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels across Singapore on Friday, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reaching 177 in the central region as the republic prepared for the Singapore Grand Prix 2026 weekend.

As of 11 am, National Environment Agency (NEA) data showed that the 24-hour PSI stood at 177 in the central region, 168 in the west, 157 in the south, 151 in the east and 119 in the north.

The 24-hour PSI forms the basis of NEA’s daily health advisories, with readings of 101 to 200 classified as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy and those above 300 hazardous.

Meanwhile, the one-hour PM2.5 reading was in the high band in the central region and remained in the elevated band in other regions.

The one-hour PM2.5 reading is the hourly average of the PM2.5 pollutant levels. PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less and is the dominant pollutant during haze episodes, posing risks to health.

PM2.5 readings of 56 to 150 are classified as elevated, while readings of 151 to 250 fall within the high band and readings above 250 are considered very high.

The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) said in its latest daily weather and haze outlook that dry weather continued over parts of the southern ASEAN region overnight.

It said isolated to scattered hotspots were detected in Kalimantan and the southern and central parts of Sumatra, while few hotspots were detected elsewhere in the southern ASEAN region. 

"Moderate to dense transboundary smoke haze was observed over parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan and the southern and central parts of Sumatra. 

"Many air quality stations in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Kalimantan and Sumatra are reporting unhealthy to hazardous levels," it said on Friday. 

-- BERNAMA