Weekend pollution levels up in S'pore

Weekend pollution levels up in S'pore

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Air pollution levels in Singapore, threatened by smoke from fires in neighboring Indonesia, climbed into the moderate range on the weekend.

The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at 4 p.m. (3 p.m. Jakarta time) yesterday was 55, the Ministry of Environment said, up from 53 Saturday.

PSI levels at 50 or below are considered good, and from 51 to 100 moderate. A reading of 101 to 200 is considered unhealthy and above 201 very unhealthy.

Levels had moved into the moderate range last weekend as well, then dropped back into good levels during the week.

Singapore is concerned that smoke from hundreds of fires reported in East Kalimantan, in the Indonesian side of Borneo island, could lead to a smoke haze similar to that which blanketed much of Southeast Asia toward the end of last year.