The haze situation in Singapore over this week is certainly one of crisis proportions. The carbon monoxide levels as measured by NEA this week go way beyond the acceptable international standards set for human exposure to this toxic gas.* This poses a significant threat to the health of everyone living in Singapore.
Tackling the haze
The SPP understands that the ongoing haze crisis is not a simple domestic issue – it has to be handled delicately with our regional partner. We also note that it has been difficult to employ cloud seeding. However we urge all relevant authorities to use the full extent of the law to rein in the commercial companies responsible starting the forest fires in Sumatra in the first place.
We call on ASEAN countries to deal urgently with this issue at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei next week, and for Singapore to take the lead in working with the Indonesian delegation for Indonesia to ratify the 2002 Southeast Asia Transboundary Haze Agreement without further delay.
During this time, Singaporeans must remain calm in order for the government and their Indonesian counterparts to solve this problem together.
Concern for the health of the vulnerable
The SPP is very concerned about the elderly and young children, and workers whose vocations require them to remain outdoors. We are also concerned about vulnerable families who do not have air conditioning at home. On Thursday night (20 June), the SPP’s grassroots workers and volunteers started giving out face masks to residents in Potong Pasir and in Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, as a temporary measure.
We are aiming to secure N95 masks and to give them out to Potong Pasir and Bishan-Toa Payoh residents. In view of this crisis, the SPP is happy to work with our PAP counterparts, if requested.
Lastly, we earnestly hope that retailers and individuals will not seek to profit during this haze period by stocking up on excessive supplies of N95 masks and selling them at overly high prices.
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* We note from NEA publications that PSI values of between 300 and 400 reflect carbon monoxide (CO) levels (in mg/m3) of between 34 and 46 for an 8-hour period. We also understand that in 2012, the maximum 24-hour average exposure has been established by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work at 7 mg/m3. Allowable standards as set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union stand at 10 mg/m3 within an 8-hour average CO level. Above the 30 mg/m3 CO level, the WHO standard only allows for a maximum exposure of 1 hour.
Singapore People's Party