If you’ve stayed in Singapore for at least a year, you would have experienced the haze that covered Singapore a while back. It’s not measured in litres or any of our usual measurements. It’s measured in PSI (Pollutant Standards Index). PSI decides the severity of the haze itself so if the PSI is over 100, it’s unhealthy to go outdoors. 

When I first moved to Singapore from London, I didn’t know anything about haze and what caused it. I initially thought it was fog and was wondering why a group of people were complaining about it even though it wasn’t that bad. So I decided to do some research. 

Haze occurs because of the illegal agricultural fires caused by slash-and-burn practices in Indonesia, especially in the provinces of Sumatra and Kalimantan. The smoke is blown to Singapore and we are left with the horrible aftermath of these irresponsible actions. 

The topic is an interesting but unhealthy one. What is haze? Well, the Internet’s definition is “a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles.” These particles can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, and ultimately our respiratory system so we wear masks to protect ourselves. It’s very important that we stay safe and check the PSI regularly before we go out.