Air quality improves to moderate in three areas

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in three areas dropped from being in the unhealthy category to moderate as at 2pm today, bringing the total number of areas with unhealthy API readings to 31.

According to the Department of Environment's (DOE) portal, the three areas with improved air quality were Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani in Kedah which had recorded an API reading of 100 from 123 previously, Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang (98 from 127) and Kuala Selangor in Selangor (97 from 113).

Kemaman recorded the most unhealthy API reading at 190, followed by Balok Baru in Kuantan (189) and two areas in Ipoh, namely at Sekolah Kebangsaan Jalan Pegoh (177) and Jalan Tasek (175).

Jerantut continued to show unhealthy API reading at 174, Batu Muda (167), Sri Aman and Indera Mahkota (161), Banting (160), Nilai (158), Putrajaya (151), Seri Manjung (152), Seremban and Port Klang (149) and Sarikei (141).

Other areas with unhealthy air quality are Shah Alam (137), Cheras, Petaling Jaya and Bukit Rambai (133), Paka and Port Dickson (132), Samarahan (131), Bandaraya Melaka (128), Seberang Jaya 2, Perai and Kampung Air Putih, Taiping (124), Muar (120), Kuching (119), Sibu (116), Perai (106), Pasir Gudang (104) and Larkin Lama (102).

Air quality with API readings of 0-50 is categorised as good, 51-100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201-300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (hazardous).

The public can visit the DOE's website at http://www.doe.gov.my to know the current API readings in their areas.