Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Air Pollution

Questions:

Mr Low Wu Yang Andre: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether any hazardous air pollutants or volatile organic compounds exceeding international safety limits were detected in Jalan Kayu, Punggol, or Seletar over the past five years; (b) if so, what were the identified sources; and (c) what specific long-term health risk assessments have been conducted for residents in these areas.

Mr Low Wu Yang Andre: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what measurable targets have been set for reducing industrial air pollution impact in north-eastern Singapore; and (b) whether the Ministry will commit to publishing periodic public reports detailing air quality trends and the outcomes of bilateral engagements regarding cross-border pollution incidents.

Mr Low Wu Yang Andre: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) whether Singapore is negotiating any memorandum of understanding or protocol with Malaysian agencies regarding cross-border industrial pollution from Johor; and (b) whether these discussions include real-time sharing of hazardous air pollutant data and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) concentrations, and mutual assistance protocols during industrial emergencies.

Mr Low Wu Yang Andre: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how frequently Singapore and Malaysia agencies meet to coordinate industrial pollution monitoring; (b) whether joint sampling or validation exercises have been conducted in the last three years; and (c) what the key outcomes of these exchanges have been in mitigating cross-border pollution risks to Singapore.

Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) beyond the six pollutants measured for the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), what other hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds are continuously monitored in Singapore's northern and north-eastern regions; (b) what are the (i) sampling frequencies (ii) analytical methods and (iii) minimum detection limits for each monitored pollutant.

Ms Eileen Chong Pei Shan: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what specific ambient air quality standards or safe exposure limits has Singapore adopted for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants beyond the six Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) pollutants; and (b) how these standards compare with WHO Air Quality Guidelines, EU Aambient Air Quality Directives, and US Environmental Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Answer:

Mr Speaker, my response to this PQ will cover related questions raised by Members regarding volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are scheduled for today and tomorrow’s sittings. If their questions have been addressed in this combined response, Members may wish to withdraw their questions.

In addition to pollutants comprising the Pollutant Standards Index, the National Environment Agency (NEA) continuously monitors a range of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) at its ambient air monitoring stations.

Long-term data trends of key pollutants are published in the State of the Environment (SOE) report every 5 years. The first edition of the report was published in 2021, with a second edition due to be released later this year.

Members have asked about VOC levels in Singapore. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and NEA have been working with Punggol Grassroots Advisors to address similar concerns from residents.

VOC readings at our ambient air monitoring stations in residential areas, including four in the north-eastern regions, are well within relevant international guidelines. One of the VOCs of interest is benzene. On an annual basis, Singapore’s national ambient benzene level is approximately 0.3 parts per billion (ppb), well below international benchmarks such as the European Union long-term exposure annual limit value of 1.6 ppb. For shorter term exposure, the US EPA 1-hour Acute Exposure Guideline Level-1 (AEGL-1) represents the airborne concentration above which the general population could experience notable discomfort or irritation. The hourly benzene readings across each of these ambient air monitoring stations are well below 1% of the AEGL-1 threshold.

Arising from our engagements with Punggol grassroots advisors in recent months, NEA will be making data on ambient benzene levels available to the public more regularly via their website including by geographical locations.

Good air quality safeguards public health and a good living environment. We have a range of policies in place to safeguard air quality, such as efforts to reduce vehicular and industrial emissions. On the bilateral front, we regularly engage our Malaysian counterparts through existing platforms to exchange information on environmental issues of mutual interest, including cross-border pollution concerns.

My Ministry and NEA will continue to review our ambient air quality targets and efforts to ensure that they remain relevant and effective in safeguarding a clean and liveable environment for everyone.