- Title: SINGAPORE: Country chokes in 'hazardous' haze from Indonesian forest fires
- Date: 20th June 2013
- Summary: SINGAPORE (JUNE 20, 2013) (REUTERS) SHOPHOUSES ALONG SINGAPORE RIVER SHROUDED IN HAZE VARIOUS OF BOATS TRAVELLING ALONG RIVER TOURISTS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS TOURISTS JENNIFER ROGERS AND LEE CARTER STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST JENNIFER ROGERS SAYING: "The last time, I was here in 2006, around this area, and I was just saying to Lee how sunny and nice it was, and it's quite the opposite." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST LEE CARTER SAYING: "I haven't seen anything, it's just smoggy and spoils the view a bit." SKYSCRAPERS SHROUDED IN HAZE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS QUEUING UP OUTSIDE MACDONALD'S SINGAPORE RESIDENT WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS LEE STANDING STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGAPORE RESIDENT WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS LEE SAYING: "But I think the general populace have had some difficulty getting better masks to protect themselves from the effects of this. I think an early warning system would be something which is important, in such circumstances, we need some preparedness." (SOUNDBITE) (English) 22-YEAR-OLD SINGAPORE RESIDENT, ALAN LUN, SAYING: "I went through my neighbourhood to find masks, but I couldn't find any, it was all sold out. I went to Unity, Guardian, Watsons, they were all sold out. So I had to use tissue from Macdonald's." PEOPLE WALKING OUTSIDE CONVENIENCE STORES WATSONS AND GUARDIAN CASHIER WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGAPORE RESIDENT BERNADETTE BRADLEY, SAYING: "It's affected all my eyes, and it's just so bad, I've never experienced anything like it, because we get lots of fires in Australia, but it's never like this. AMBULANCE OUTSIDE HOSPITAL SIGN READING: "EMERGENCY" MAN WEARING MASK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HEAD AND SENIOR CONSULTANT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINE DEPARTMENT, MALCOLM MAHADEVAN, WORKING AT DESK HAND SCROLLING COMPUTER MOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HEAD AND SENIOR CONSULTANT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINE DEPARTMENT, MALCOLM MAHADEVAN SAYING: "A particular concern is the PM 2.5, which is the particulate matter which is really small, that can be inhaled and get into the deeper recesses of the lungs, even sometimes get absorbed into the bloodstream, and cause its bad effects, especially on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. This is what we are most concerned about." VARIOUS OF POLLUTANT STANDARDS INDEX ON WEBSITE
- Embargoed: 5th July 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Singapore
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Environment,Health
- Reuters ID: LVA5MTP6OLSKMJHOAR714HDQP4EJ
- Story Text: Singapore on Thursday (June 20) was smothered under record high levels of haze from Indonesian forest fires.
The illegal burning of forests and other land on Indonesia's Sumatra island, to the west of Singapore, to clear space for palm oil plantations is a chronic problem, particularly during the June to September dry season.
At 1 p.m. local time (0500GMT), Singapore's pollution standards index (PSI) soared to a new high of 371, indicating air quality was "hazardous".
Tourists visiting the city state said the haze spoilt their sight-seeing.
"The last time, I was here in 2006, around this area, and I was just saying to Lee how sunny and nice it was, and it's quite the opposite," tourist Jennifer Rogers said.
"I haven't seen anything, it's just smoggy and spoils the view a bit," tourist Lee Carter added.
Some Singapore citizens called for an early warning system for the haze.
"But I think the general populace have had some difficulty getting better masks to protect themselves from the effects of this. I think an early warning system would be something which is important, in such circumstances, we need some preparedness," said a resident who identified himself as Lee.
Others said they had to resort to using whatever they had on hand to avoid breathing in the haze.
"I went through my neighbourhood to find masks, but I couldn't find any, it was all sold out. I went to Unity, Guardian, Watsons, they were all sold out. So I had to use tissue from Macdonald's," 22-year-old Alan Lun said, naming all the local pharmacies that sell masks.
Singapore resident Bernadette Bradley said the haze was causing her problems.
"It's affected all my eyes, and it's just so bad, I've never experienced anything like it, because we get lots of fires in Australia, but it's never like this," she said.
Malcolm Mahadevan, a doctor at the National University Hospital, said inhaling particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter could pose a serious risk to health.
"A particular concern is the PM 2.5, which is the particulate matter which is really small, that can be inhaled and get into the deeper recesses of the lungs, even sometimes get absorbed into the bloodstream, and cause its bad effects, especially on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. This is what we are most concerned about," he said.
The city state, which prides itself on its clean environment and usually enjoys clear skies, saw its air quality deteriorate to unhealthy levels on Monday (June 17). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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