Dear PM Lee Hsien Loong, Dr Ng Eng Hen and Members of the Haze Inter-Ministerial Committee (HIMC),
As a Singaporean like many others who have both the very young and elderly family members who are directly impacted by ongoing Haze conditions, I would like to bring to your attention on couple of issues which is of real concern to me and my family
I believe it is time that the HIMC direct NEA to review its current practices or policy of publishing only the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) Readings (from 3-hour now to 24-hour range). After hearing reports from Medical Practitioners and UN Experts, we need to NEA to publish the PSI alongside with the PM2.5 Readings in the Main Stream Media (MSM) including the CNA and other MediaCorp’s Channels.
As we are aware (and for the benefit of my other friends), small, yet potentially deadly – PM2.5 is one of the reasons why the haze-filled air around us appears murkier and more acrid-smelling than the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) number suggests. The PSI is an indicator of the level of major air pollutants, including PM10 – a class of particles which is larger than the PM2.5. Unlike the United States, which uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) – an aggregation of the levels of PM2.5, ozone and other major air pollutants – Singapore monitors the PSI and PM2.5 indicators separately.
PM2.5 – the acronym for fine particulate matter (PM) 2.5 micrometres in diameter or smaller – refers to the minute particles which pollute the air. These include combustion particles – from motor vehicles and the forest fires in Indonesia – and other substances. PM10 which measures the concentration of Particulate Matter less than 10 microns in size including those 2.5 microns or smaller. In comparison, the size of a single strand of human hair is between 50 and 70 micrometres in diameter.
From reviewing the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, it is critical to note that PM2.5 is what we as Singaporeans need to be more concerned about yet we know little about PM2.5 and are so fixated on the PSI. I am disappointed with the many media coverage failing to address how PSI levels can drop but PM2.5 readings can increase at the same time. We need to be better informed both by the Government and the Main Stream Media.
The WHO says particulate matter (PM) "affects more people than any other pollutant". PM is what gets into our body. WHO 2005 guideline values for PM2.5 are 10 micrograms μg/m3for the annual mean and 25 micrograms μg/m3 for the 24-hour mean..
Reported studies conducted by Beijing University in China have directly linked PM2.5 to aggravated asthma conditions, lung problems and heart attacks. PM2.5 is so deadly because it is small enough to be inhaled into the bloodstream and the deepest regions of our lungs. Coarser PM10 particles, on the other hand, are normally more benign because they are usually trapped by the nasal passages or pass directly through the body.
Hence, as an average Singaporean, I would have thought it is crucial for us to snap on the N95 mask when the PM2.5 reading exceeds 40, where an expert from the Singapore Environment Council has also reportedly advised recently. It’s an indication of unhealthy PM2.5 levels in the air. At at 1.00 pm today (22 June 2013), the NEA website's data showed PM2.5 at 224-273 μg/m3. The Readings exceeded 300 μg/m3 earlier yesterday.
Yet we hear that Singaporeans should not panic and rush to obtain the N95 Masks which regrettably are not easily available throughout the island earlier yesterday and today. As MOH has reported that we have 9 Million of N95 Masks in the Government Stockpile, I am confident that with the MINDEF & SAF support we could have them delivered to the community expeditiously.
I would appreciate your response to my point-of-views on the above issues.
Thank you. #sghaze
Sattar Bawany
*Letter first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/notes/sattar-bawany/open-letter-to-pm-lee-hsien...
PM2.5
PM Lee and HIMC
Singapore Skyline at 12 Noon yesterday at PSI 401
