AIR quality worsened this afternoon in some areas with the air pollutant index (API) reading at 3pm for Johan Setia in Klang entering the “very unhealthy” range, from the “unhealthy” category it occupied this morning.

The API in the area rose to 207, up from 191 at noon, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

Air quality in Sri Aman, Sarawak, remained unhealthy at 203, changing little from 202 at noon.

Four other areas have also slipped into the unhealthy category – Langkawi (107) and Alor Star (103) in Kedah, Bukit Rambai in Malacca (106) and Larkin in Johor (108) – with 42 areas now registering API levels of 100 or more.

Langkawi and Alor Star have become the latest areas hit with poor air quality since the transboundary smoke pollution began late last month.

An API reading of between 0 and 50 indicates good air quality, moderate is 51-100, unhealthy is 101-200, very unhealthy is 201-300 and hazardous is 300 or more.

At 3pm, most areas on the DOE’s API website showed slightly higher readings compared to noon, or else marginal improvements but still within the unhealthy range.

Other areas affected by unhealthy air are Kulim Hi-Tech Park (122), Taiping (126), Tasek Ipoh (185), Pegoh Ipoh (157), Seri Manjung (146) and Tanjung Malim (116), Seberang Jaya (118) Seberang Prai (111), Minden (158), Balik Pulau (168), Batu Muda (138) Cheras (146), Putrajaya (138), Kuala Selangor (162), Petaling Jaya (138), Shah Alam (143), Klang (138), Banting (123), Nilai (141), Seremban (130), Port Dickson (121), Alor Gajah (109), Segamat (131), Larkin (104), Pasir Gudang (112), Pengerang (108), Tangkak (104), Rompin (118), Temerloh (135), Jerantut (141), Indera Mahkota Kuantan (153), Balok Baru Kuantan (140), Kemaman (150), Paka (130), Kuala Terengganu (145), Miri (104), Sarikei (101), Samarahan (129) and Kuching (118). – September 22, 2019.