S'pore concerned about acid rain

S'pore concerned about acid rain

SINGAPORE (DPA): Long-awaited rainfall has cleared much of the choking haze from Singapore's air -- but new concerns have arisen over the rain's acidity, reports in the city-state said yesterday.

Air pollution from forest fires in Indonesia causes acid rain which could damage concrete buildings, the Television Corporation of Singapore quoted experts as saying.

The reports assured Singaporeans that skin contact with the rain was not harmful, pointing out that lemon juice is far more acidic.

Singapore and much of Southeast Asia have been covered with thick, foul-smelling smoke from the fires, which started as an illegal land-clearing method by agricultural and forestry companies in Indonesia.