Air quality in Singapore

Previously, we have touched about air quality as a general topic. Now, we shall focus on the air quality of Singapore, how readings are taken, how we can as citizens improve the air quality in Singpapore, so that we will benefit the people living in Singapore.

How air quality in Singapore is monitored.

The ambient air quality in Singapore is routinely monitored by the National Environment Agency (NEA) though the Telemetri Air quality monitoring and Management System (TAQMMS) . The system comprises remote air monitoring stations linked to a Central Control Station (CSS) via dial-up telephone lines.

The monitoring stations monitor both ambient and roadside air quality. Automatic analysis and equipment are deployed at the monitoring stations to measure the concentrations of major air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, oxides of Nitrogen, Carbon monoxide, Ozone and respirable suspended particles.

Reporting of the air quality in regions of Singapore namely the North, South, East, West and Central regions of Singapore is done using PSI , Pollutant Standard Index.

he PSI is a measure of the air quality in Singapore and is an index developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to provide accurate, timely and easily understandable information about daily levels of air pollution. In Singapore, it is determined by taking the highest concentration of the five key air pollutants viz. PM10 (particulate matter of 10 microns or smaller in size), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone monitored at NEA's 11 ambient air monitoring stations located strategically in different parts of Singapore.

The PSI value gives an indication of the air quality as shown:

PSI Value	PSI Descriptor
0 - 50	Good
51 - 100	Moderate
101 - 200	Unhealthy
201 - 300	Very Unhealthy
Above 300	Hazardous

Currently, the overall PSI reading is posted daily at 4pm on the NEA website at www.nea.gov.sg/psi/.

Take an example for today :

<24-hr PSI at 4pm, 17 June 2008

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Region 24-hr Sub-Index at 4pm, 17 June 2008 PSI* Air Quality Descriptor Responsible Pollutant Sulphur Dioxide PM10 Ozone Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen Dioxide+ North 8 38 10 8 - 38 Good PM10 South 8 32 14 7 - 32 Good PM10 East 8 34 9 5 - 34 Good PM10 West 24 34 14 8 - 34 Good PM10 Central 5 35 7 7 - 35 Good PM10 Overall Singapore* 24 38 14 8 - 38 Good PM10

The major sources of air pollution in Singapore.

The main sources of air pollution in Singapore are from the burning of fossil fuel for heat generation in industries, electricity generation and transportation.

The sources of air pollution can be grouped into three categories as follows:

• stationary sources such as power stations, oil refineries and industries;
• mobile sources such as motor vehicles; and
• others such as open burning of waste materials and transboundary air pollution

The main air pollutants are sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, hydrocarbons and particulates.

How to improve the air quality in Singapore.

Other than using air cleaning devices. All Singaporeans can do our part like taking public transport instead of taking private cars. However since another major source of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels, we can cut down the amount of pollutants emitted into the air by saving electricity and going green. The small action of turning the appliance off and not leave it in stand-by mode can go a long way into making sure that the air quality in Singapore remains good and in healthy level.