{
  "id": 8117242,
  "title": "Haze in S’pore: Air quality improving with central region now in moderate range",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/haze-in-spore-air-quality-improving-with-central-region-now-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T22:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/haze-in-spore-air-quality-improving-with-central-region-now-in-moderate-range"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's air quality showed improvement overnight, with the central region's 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) returning to the moderate range, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA). At 6am on September 18, the PSI in the central region, which includes Thomson, Marymount, Sin Ming, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Serangoon Gardens, MacRitchie, and Toa Payoh, was 97, falling within the moderate range of 51 to 100. The central region's PSI dipped to 100 at 1am after being in the unhealthy range for several hours. The PSI peaked at 102 at 9pm and then gradually increased to 103 at 10pm. From 9pm onward, the PSI in the north, south, east, and west remained in the moderate range, with readings of 90, 80, 73, and 69 respectively at 6am on September 18. Hourly PM2.5 readings, which measure fine particulate matter concentrations, were also in the normal band for all regions at 6am. NEA advised the public to rely on hourly PM2.5 readings for immediate activities and 24-hour PSI readings to plan daily schedules. Air quality is deemed unhealthy when the 24-hour PSI ranges from 101 to 200, and an hourly PM2.5 reading between 56 and 150 indicates elevated fine particle concentrations. During these periods, healthy individuals should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, while vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic lung or heart disease, should minimize or avoid such activities.",
  "summary": "At 6am on Sept 18, the 24-hour PSI reading in the central area was 97.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}