Air quality: Port Klang, Banting register hazardous API

Port Klang and Banting continue to record high Air Pollutant Index (API) reading, which has reached the hazardous level at 352 and 316 respectively, Friday morning.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) website, the API reading at Port Klang rose to 352 at 7am on Friday, from 233 at 6pm on Thursday, while the reading in Banting at 6pm on Thursday was at 189.

Thirteen other areas also recorded unhealthy API, namely Petaling Jaya (186), Putrajaya (176), Batu Muda (176), Shah Alam (165), Cheras (147), Kuala Selangor (154), Nilai (165), Port Dickson (168), Seremban (155), Bukit Rambai (134), Bandaraya Melaka (115), Muar (111), and Tanjung Malim (107).

It also stated that 18 areas registered moderate API reading and 18 areas recorded good API.

Yesterday, the Selangor Education Department ordered all 131 schools in Klang to be closed today when the API reading in the district reached the very unhealthy level.

API readings of between 0-50 are considered good, moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and dangerous (exceeding 301).

The people can surf the portal, apims.doe.gov.my of the DOE, to find out the API in their areas.