Air quality worsening in Selangor, Seremban

Poor visibility: The Kesas Highway shrouded by heavy haze.

PETALING JAYA: Unhealthy air levels have been recorded in Port Klang, Nilai, Banting, Putrajaya, Cheras, Kuala Selangor and Serem-ban.

According to the Department of Environ­ment’s website, the air pollutant index (API) in Port Klang was 142 as at 5pm yesterday.

At noon, the reading in Port Klang was 132, progressively increasing to 133 at 1pm, 135 at 2pm, 136 at 3pm and 139 at 4pm. In Nilai, the API reading was 107 from noon to 2pm, rising to 108 at 3pm, 112 at 4pm and 118 at 5pm.

Banting experienced moderate API readings before 2pm but the air quality worsened to 113 at 3pm, 135 at 4pm and 107 at 5pm.

Putrajaya, Cheras, Kuala Selan-gor and Seremban experienced­ moderate readings early yesterday but the air quality worsened­ later.

At 5pm yesterday, API levels in Putrajaya was 110, Cheras 108, Kuala Selangor 104 and Seremban 102.

An API reading of between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and 301 and above hazardous.

Unhealthy API levels may cause chest discomfort, coughs and shortness of breath.

Meteorological Department national weather centre director Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said it was not unusual for parts of Malaysia to experience hazy conditions during this time of the year as it was the dry season due to the end of the north-east monsoon season.