Air Quality Worsens Nationwide As At 9 Am Wednesday

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The air quality in the country worsened Wednesday with 29 areas recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and Shah Alam (in Selangor state), at a very unhealthy leval, as at 9 am Wednesday. According to Department of Environment's (DOE) portal, four areas -- Port Klang, Putrajaya, Banting and Petaling Jaya -- had been recording unhealthy API since 10 pm and the situation was reported to worsen with the air quality almost reaching the very unhealthy level Wednesday. The API in Port Klang as at 9 am Wednesday was 200, while Putrajaya (189), Banting (186) and Petaling Jaya (183). The 25 areas with unhealthy API are Alor Setar (135); Bakar Arang in Sg Petani (139); Langkawi (132); Bandaraya Melaka (114); Bukit Rambai (119); Nilai (149); Port Dickson (117); Seremban (150); Jerantut (104), Jalan Tasek (139) and S K Jalan Pegoh in Ipoh (148); Kg Air Putih in Taiping (118); Seri Manjung (143); Tanjung Malim (123); Kangar (137); Perai (120), Seberang Jaya 2 (142) and USM (143) in Penang; Kuching (131); Samarahan (135); Sarikei (115); Sri Aman (145); Kuala Selangor (152); Batu Muda (171) and Cheras (150) in Kuala Lumpur. Moderate air quality was recorded in 21 areas, namely Kota Tinggi (68); Larkin Lama (73); Muar (95); Pasir Gudang (90); SMK Tanjung Chat in Kota Bharu (97); Tanah Merah (92); Balok Baru (72); Indera Mahkota (69); Keningau (68); Kota Kinabalu (68); Sandakan (60); Tawau (92); Bintulu (93); ILP Miri (69); Kapit (85); Limbang (62); Sibu (92); Kemaman (82); Kuala Terengganu (98); Paka (72) Labuan (62). An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy and 300 and above, hazardous. Members of the public can check the status of the API reading in their respective areas by surfing the portal http://apims.doe.gov.my. -- BERNAMA