Today-June 25
Sales of air purifiers have been increasing in Singapore as residents prepare for the coming haze season. A local think-tank recently issued a “red” rating for haze in its annual report, indicating a high likelihood of severe haze due to the El Nino weather phenomenon. However, it is not expected to be as severe as in 2015. When the haze situation in 2015 became so severe that it led to school closures, it came as a terrible shock to Ms Michelle, who did not make any preparations since she did not expect the air quality level to worsen. Having learnt her lesson, the 50-year-old is now gearing up for the coming haze season by purchasing an air purifier. She is one of the several shoppers whom TODAY observed looking for air purifiers at various shopping malls on Sunday (June 25). Ms Michelle, who declined to give her full name, was shopping with her husband at a Harvey Norman outlet in Hougang Mall. They have read the news about a possible severe haze occurring soon.“I wanted to be prepared for it this time round. I don’t have an air purifier, so I thought I’d buy one,” she said. The Singapore Institute of International Affairs has said that there is a high chance of severe haze occurring in Southeast Asia this year, although the situation is unlikely be as severe as in 2015, when the 24-hour pollutant standards index hit hazardous levels.
The think-tank in its haze outlook report published on Wednesday gave a “red” — meaning high risk — rating for 2023, the first time it has given such a rating since it produced yearly reports in 2019. This is based on experts’ predictions that the El Nino weather phenomenon will bring hotter and drier conditions from June to October, causing a severe dry spell to hit the region. The Meteorological Service Singapore in May advised the public to be prepared, such as by “ensuring that they have sufficient N95 face masks and air purifiers in good working condition”. At several stores, air purifier sellers said that their products have been flying off the shelves over the last two months. Read more at:
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/air-purifier-masks-haze-experts-2199026
