Haze: More areas record unhealthy API readings

An electronic signboard on the Federal Highway displaying API readings on Sunday afternoon. - AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

PETALING JAYA: A total of 29 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 10am Monday.

The affected locations in the peninsula are in Johor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Sarawak, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, according to the Department of Environment's website.

Banting in Selangor recorded the highest API at 176, followed by Nilai (168), Port Klang (165), Seremban (162), and Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (161).

Other areas with unhealthy API readings in Peninsular Malaysia are Cheras in Kuala Lumpur (152), Shah Alam (148), Port Dickson (146), Kuala Selangor (144), Bukit Rambai in Malacca and Petaling Jaya  (both 143).

In Sarawak, the areas with unhealthy API readings are Sri Aman (134), Samarahan (118), Sarikei (119) and Kuching (105).

Areas in Sabah, meanwhile, recorded moderate readings.

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).

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