Official API readings no direct correlation with visibility range, says DPM

SERDANG (Bernama): Air Pollutant Index (API) readings issued by the Environment Department (DOE) are averages over 24 hours and have no direct correlation with visibility range, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The Deputy Prime Minister said API readings channelled by DOE via Air Pollutants Index Malaysia (APIM) are the country's official API readings and the data was verified first before displaying to the public.

"The public is advised to refer only to the API readings released by the DOE to avoid any confusion," she told reporters after opening the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing’s new building at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, here Monday (Sept 23).

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) chairman, said this in response to many queries on the accuracy of DOE's API readings due to the visibility range dropping in certain parts of the country on Sunday (Sept 22).

She added that the use of PM2.5 (particulate matter up to 2.5 microns) in calculation of the API followed international standards and was adopted by many countries for sustainability of the environment.

According to the status report on the current haze situation in the country, as at 8am Monday, 40 locations recorded unhealthy air quality while only Johan Setia in Klang was facing very unhealthy air quality with an API reading of 212. - Bernama