Hotels in Singapore Suffocates From Worsening Haze

Hotels in Singapore are gasping for reprieve from the haze that has descended over the island state since June 13. As the country is shrouded in a dense blanket of smoky fog, tourists started cancelling hotel room reservations, cutting short their holiday and diverting to haze-free destinations.

Singapore faces its worst haze situation since the 1997 Southeast Asian Haze; a large-scale air quality disaster affecting many countries in the region. According to statistics from the National Environment Agency of Singapore (http://www.nea.gov.sg), the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI), a measurement for air pollution has indicated Singapore’s air quality to be in the “very unhealthy” range since June 18. NEA has also issued health advisory for the public to stay indoors and should avoid all physical activity outdoor.

The haze also couldn’t have come at the right time as July to August period is the peak season for visitors from China and Indonesia. Hotels in Singapore are now anticipating a drop in visitors from these top two visitor markets. Other regional markets are also expected to make alternative plans as tourists are put off by the polluted air.

“We have noticed a 16% drop in hotel room bookings since June 17 when the haze starts to worsen. And on Thursday when the PSI hit 371 which is unprecedented and at a hazardous level, we started to see tourists cancelling their booked hotel rooms in Singapore,” says Danny Lee of BudgetHotels.sg.

Tourists are ditching Singapore as a travel destination due to worsening haze from Indonesia forest fires, says budget hotel specialist BudgetHotels.sg.

Tourists hoping to ride the iconic Singapore Flyer will have to wait as it has suspended operations for safety reasons. Other popular tourist spots like Resorts World Sentosa and Singapore Zoo have also suspended outdoor attractions and shows till the haze situation improves. For tourists heading to Singapore, they are advised to adjust their itinerary to indoor activities like visiting museums and shopping malls.

“We are adopting a wait-and-see approach as the haze is beyond our control,” added Lee. “But I’m hopeful the sky will turn clear in a few days time when the wind changes direction and blow the haze away. It will not be a permanent condition and Singapore skies will once be clear and beautiful again.”

Singapore haze situation improved in the weekend thanks to winds

After horrific levels of PSI in Singapore, this weekend brought us some relatively fresh air. Is haze over? Unfortunately the answer is no. The reason we had low PSI was winds pushing heavy smoke away from Singapore rather than a decrease in the forest fires:

There has been an improvement in air quality since last night, and this improvement has been sustained this morning. As at 12 noon today, the 24-hour PSI is 88-98 and the 24-hr PM2.5 is 81-102 ug per meter cube.

The improvement in the air quality is due to a change in the direction of the low level winds over Singapore from south-westerly to southerly, since last night.

The 2-hour PSI for the rest of today is revised to be in the unhealthy band (101-200). 


Source: NEA

Where to buy N95 mask in Singapore?

As many, I had a really hard time to find a place to buy N95 mask in Singapore. As haze levels broke a new record by each passing day, mask sales soared in Singapore resulting in "out of stock" signs everywhere in Singapore.

You know, or should know, that the surgical masks are not effective to protect you from haze. The danger of haze is PM 10 particles in the air, particles smaller than 10 micron in size. A more hazardous subset of PM 10 is PM 2.5, particles smaller than 2.5 micron in size. Surgical masks are not effective to filter PM 10. You need a N95 mask, a mask which can filter 95% of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 micron in size.

"Surgical masks are not effective. "N95 masks are far more superior" said respiratory expert Philip Eng. The masks protects you from at least 95% of smoke particles.

After going to several retailers, I started to try my chance online. I could not catch several online sales deals since they went out of stock immediately but yesterday night, I have managed to order a 20 piece pack of N95 masks online from Deal.sg. A N95 mask should cost S$1.8 to $3. I paid the top end, $60 per pack! Expensive I know but redemption period was next day. And although it was expensive, it was high in demand. I bought as the deal was showing 20 buyers and 10 minutes after I have successfully completed my order, the deal was  sold out with 156 buyers.

Today, I went to collect the pack from Deal.sg collection point and I am wearing one. It looks quite shiny outside but the PSI is still around 178 and the haze may go on weeks if a rain does not kills the fires.

I have read in Singapore's Straits Times today that they are bringing more masks and releasing them in batches. Just now saw a deal for 3M 95 Masks which was sold out in hours to 1500 people! Probably the packages are not even ordered by the dealer since the redemption period only starts on June 26th!

N95 masks are in very high demand in Singapore. This 20 Pieces of N95 Masks
was put online sales by deals.sg.

According to The Straits Times, Watson's told that it has more than a million masks like this and Guardian said about 50,000 will be distributed to its outlets.

A caution. N95 masks are not certified for kids so it is still better keep them indoors instead of taking them out with N95 masks.   

Singapore PSI hits 400+ as haze chokes Singapore

It was quite obvious in the morning that the haze in Singapore today was much worse than the previous days, which were already recording record levels of PSI. There was thick smoke in everywhere including the closed spaces like our office.

Well, your nose cannot be wrong, Singapore PSI has hit a new all time high today on Friday:

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday (04:00 GMT) - the highest in the country's history. The haze is also affecting Malaysia, with another 100 schools closed in the south of the country.

A PSI reading above 300 is already defined as "hazardous". But according to Singapore government guidelines, PSI reading of above 400 over 24 hours "may be life threatening to ill and elderly people"!

According to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong, the haze in Singapore could remain in place for weeks. Last time there was a large scale haze in South East Asia, the air quality across the region only started to improve in late October as heavy rainfall doused fires in Indonesia.

Map and satellite view of the haze over Singapore

Who is behind the haze? Which companies to blame for haze?

On this scale, it is very unlikely that the slash-and-burn is done simply by individual poor farmers:

"It can easily last for several weeks and quite possibly longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra,"  Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday, warning of action if Singapore-linked companies were behind the burning.

"On the scale of it, it's unlikely to be just small stakeholders slashing and burning."

As we have written before, palm oil farming is to blame, whether the slash-and-burn is done by individuals or firms. Increased demand for this oil as a cheap way to source bio-fuel to meet the so-called green quoted is to blame.

Around 50 million tons of palm oil is produced annually; with almost all of that being non-sustainable palm oil, that replaces millions of hectares of dense, bio-diverse rainforest. 

Palm oil is mainly used in foods, cosmetics and cleaning agents, but it can also be found in some bio-fuels. This fatty vegetable oil is mixed with a number of other fuels and liquids to create an 'Eco-Friendly' bio-fuel. This 'Eco-Friendly' bio-fuel has already become mandatory in numerous countries including Malaysia, where 5% of all fuel must contain palm oil, and if it continues to be voted into petrol stations around the world, the future for our orange primate cousins and their rainforest homes will be very bleak. - Source : Say no to palm oil

Singapore wants Indonesia to provide maps of land concessions so it can act against firms that allow slash-and-burn land clearing.

Greenpeace International told Eco-Business that some Singapore-based companies are known to source palm oil from companies involved in the fire clearing and forest destruction.

Haze in Singapore can go on for weeks, masks and air purifier sales are up

Haze in Singapore is getting worse as at one point the Singapore PSI hit a new record of 371, making yesterday the most hazy day in Singapore's history. And in my opinion, today is worse, since the thick smoke can be felt everywhere, in underground MRT stations and tunnels to offices with air conditioning systems.

The best way to protect yourself from haze is to stay indoors as soon as possible. If your air conditioning system has air purification function, also keep it on.

If you really need to stay outside for a long time, you will need a mask. But it seems like everywhere is out of mask stock, especially the N95 masks (a special mask which can filter 95% of particles in air larger than 0.3 micron). On the other hand, indoor air purifier sales are up with the hope that they will work to keep haze outside.

Air purifiers also saw an overwhelming interest amongst concerned consumers. Courts Singapore said sales of its air purifiers tripled compared to last week. It said prices of air purifiers at its stores range from about S$170 to S$1,300. [1]

N95 masks filter 95% of particals with more than 0.3 micron size.

Many online dealers have also started to offer campaign on air purifiers to take advantage of the demand. For example Deal.sg has a Beat The Haze Campaign currently where some quality air purifiers goes on for sale with discount. The products range from a large Sharp Air Purifier from $499 to a tiny USB Air purifier for $12.

 It may be a good idea to invest into something like this since according to Singapore's Prime Minister haze can stay for weeks and even months and it will probably be repeated in the next dry season.

[1] - Sales of face masks increase as Singaporeans take preventive measures against haze

Singapore PSI and haze facts

What is PSI?
PSI stands for The Pollutant Standards Index is system of measuring pollution levels for the major air pollutants. It is based on a scale devised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to provide a way for broadcasts and newspapers to report air quality on a daily basis.

Who uses PSI?
The PSI is used in a number of countries including the United States and Singapore. Since 1999, The United States EPA has replaced the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) with the Air Quality Index (AQI) to incorporate new PM 2.5 and ozone standards. Singapore still uses PSI.

Singapore has not yet moved to replace the PSI with the Air Quality Index. Instead, it publishes the PSI and the PM2.5 Concentration separately.

Where can I get latest PSI in Singapore?
The best place is National Environment Agency PSI web page. NEA updates latest Singapore PSI and PM 2.5 Readings here.

What is PM 2.5 published in NEA PSI web site?
PM, Particulate Matter, is a definition of particle pollution in the air. There are two kinds of particle pollution, fine particles and inhalable coarse particles. Fine particles are called PM 2.5, because their size is 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller. Singapore PSI does not factor in these potentially more dangerous particles but NEA publishes their levels separately. For more info, see Singapore PSI breaks record into hazardous levels, PM 2.5 levels are dangerously high.

Particulate Matter Pollution in the air

What are levels of PSI readings?

000 - 050 Good
051 - 100 Moderate
101 - 200 Unhealthy
201 - 300 Very unhealthy
300+  Hazardous
Source : NEA PSI page

What to do to protect yourself from high levels of PSI?
Other than limiting outtdoor activities, you are advised to use N95 masks (masks that can filter 95% of 0.3 micron+ particles) when you are out. At home, it is better to use aircon instead of natural ventilation.

An N95 mask like this is one of the best ways to protect yourself from haze.

"If you have concerns about the level of particulate matter in the air you are breathing, you should minimize your exposure by avoiding outdoor physical activity (especially near high-traffic areas) and, if you have existing respiratory problems, by staying indoors with the windows closed and the air conditioning on. When driving in dusty or smoky air, running the car air conditioning may help to clean the cabin air by passing outside air through a filter on the way to the cabin. This technique may be ineffective in the re-circulate or maximum air conditioning mode if this mode bypasses the air conditioning filter and in cars without an air conditioning filter" Source : Particulate Matter Pollution Fact Sheet

Singapore PSI breaks record into hazardous levels, PM 2.5 levels are dangerously high.

Update: Singapore PSI has hit a new record level on Friday 21 June noontime and hit to 401! according to Singapore government guidelines, PSI reading of above 400 over 24 hours "may be life threatening to ill and elderly people"!

The three-hour Singapore PSI climbed to 321 at 10 pm local time (1300 GMT) on 19 June 2013 which has put the haze in Singapore to "hazardous" level. But another and potentially more dangerous measure, 24-hour PM2.5 Concentration, is also worryingly in hazardous levels.

PM, Particulate Matter, is a definition of particle pollution in the air. There are two kinds of particle pollution, fine particles and inhalable coarse particles. Fine particles are called PM 2.5, because their size is 2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller.

Singapore uses Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) which was developed by  United States Environment Agency but abandoned in USA in 1999 for Air Quality Index (AQI). The problem with PSI is that it does not factor in fine particles called PM 2.5 which can be more dangerous than larger dust particles, as they can enter the lungs and bloodstream more easily.

Although Singapore uses PSI, not AQI, National Environment Agency of Singapore separately calculates PM 2.5 and publishes it on its Singapore PSI web site. And the island-wide 24-hour PM2.5 Concentration is an incredible 201-246. When this reading is between 150 and 250, people with heart and lung disease, children and older adults should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Everyone else should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

PM2.5 is called invisible killer and researchers from Peking University linked high PM 2.5 readings to spikes in the mortality rate of patients suffering heart and lung diseases.

Now do not panic immediately. We won't get poisoned with super high PM 2.5 levels. This happens a lot in Beijing and it does not cause mass destruction. You know not long time ago US Embassy in Beijing started circulating on micro blogs suggesting the density of PM 2.5 was about 250 to 350 on Oct 30, 2011. And the general air pollution index was 425, reaching the level of "poisonous" (US Embassy data created an online buzz because index released by the municipal environmental authority the same day was only 132 and the air was categorized as "lightly polluted").

But it is very unhealthy to have these PSI and PM 2.5 levels. Make sure to wear a mask. Not a surgical mask, a N95 Mask (which blocks out 95 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns) or maybe an effective and high tech one like Techno Anti-Pollution Mask.

What Is PM 2.5 and PM 10?

See also Haze in Singapore can go on for weeks, masks and air purifier sales are up.

Haze in Singapore: Singapore PSI worsens

Update: As worrying as Singapore PSI levels are, another major of air quality, PM 2.5, is also very high in unhealthy region.

Update: Well it is getting worse. The three-hour Singapore PSI climbed to 321 at 10 pm local time (1300 GMT) on 19 June 2013! This puts air quality to "hazardous" level.

Update: Singapore's air is now almost "very unhealthy" as the PSI soared to 190 at 8 pm today (19 June 2013), the worst reading in 16 years.

This afternoon Singapore PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) crossed the unhealthy level of 100 and rose to rose to 105 as of 3 pm. I was just looking towards PSA Building from Keppel Tower in Harbour Front this morning. There was almost no visibility (it is less then a kilometer away)! This is the worst haze in Singapore I have witnessed since the famous 2006 Southeast Asian haze.

In the night, PSI went from bad to worse:

The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 155 at 10pm, nearly 100 points higher than the PSI level of 56 at 7am today and well above  the "unhealthy" threshold of 101 and above. 

This is the highest since 1997, when the index reached 226.

But why there is haze in Singapore? Haze in Singapore and in the region is mostly caused by uncontrolled burning from "slash and burn" cultivation in Indonesia. Why Indonesian farmers slash and burn? To convert forests for the development of rubber and oil palm plantations. Slash and burn farming is a generations-old agricultural practice to clear land quickly through the cutting and burning of forests and woodlands to clear the sites for agricultural purposes. The demand is driven and accelerated largely by this environment "friendly" stupidity called bio-fuel! You know some governments somewhere else has put this ultra-environment destroying biofuels obligation for oil suppliers and guess how the suppliers are complying:

Palm oil is the cheapest fuel to buy and is used by most companies to meet part of their biofuels obligation. 

However, it is also the most damaging to the environment due to the CO2 released when forest is burnt down to create plantations. 

The RFA said: "The large proportion of unknown previous land use is of concern. If even a small proportion of this was carbon-rich grassland or forestland, it could have substantially reduced the carbon savings resulting from the renewable transport fuels obligation as a whole, or even resulted in a net release of carbon." 

Indonesia is the third largest CO2 emitter after America and China due to the expansion of the palm oil industry.

So if you are using bio-fuel and feel like you do something good, stop at least the stupidity: You are helping to destroy rain-forest and releasing more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere then someone using 100% fosil fuel. And if you are using bio-fuel and at the same time angry about the Chinese practice of Tiger parts as medicine then please note that you are killing more tigers by helping the destruction of their habitat.

How bad is it? Just take a look at the photo below. It shows the same location with and without haze:

Haze in Singapore - Source : Stomp

Can you imagine the amount of fire required to do this?