Air quality over eastern Singapore worsens with bush fires

Air quality over eastern Singapore worsens with bush fires

23February 2005

publishedby Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The bush fires in the east have worsened the air quality there.

The Environment Ministry says the Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, over eastern Singapore is the worst in the country at 56, but it is still in the moderate range.

The PSI over western Singapore is the best, at just 36.

Since February 14, the Environment Ministry has started posting the PSI levels according to regions, on its website at .

A check with doctors and polyclinics have shown that Singaporeans are holding up well against the worsened air quality due to the bush fires.

While many are complaining about the smell of smoke in the air, the number of patients at clinics across the islandwide remains fairly constant.

SingHealth Polyclinics, which has three polyclinics in the east — Bedok, Tampines and Pasir Ris — says it is still seeing some 6,000 patients for flu every week.

But there is a slight increase in the number of asthma patients, which has risen to 600, up 100 from the usual 500 a week. – CNA 

Back