18 areas record unhealthy API readings

Penang haze condition on Saturday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Eighteen areas in several states in the peninsula and Sarawak recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) readings as at 9am Saturday.

Besides Sarawak, the affected areas were Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor, stated the Department of Environment (DOE) in its website.

Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest API reading of 162, followed by Port Klang (161), Samarahan (158), Shah Alam (157), Petaling Jaya (148), Kuala Selangor (147), Kuching (142) and Nilai (141).

Other areas were Sri Aman (136), Banting (134), 132 in Seremban, Cheras and Putrajaya, Jerantut (120), Bukit Rambai (108), Seri Manjung (107), Port Dickson (106) and Bandaraya Melaka (101).

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

The public can access http://apims.doe.gov.my, for updates. - Bernama