EIGHT areas in Peninsular Malaysia had high Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, indicating unhealthy air quality, as at 5pm, with Klang in Selangor recording the highest reading at 159.

The Environment Department’s API Management System website showed the other seven areas with unhealthy air quality were Selangor’s Petaling Jaya (154), Johan Setia (153), Shah Alam (138) and Banting (133); Kuala Lumpur’s Cheras (146) and Batu Muda (137); and Johor’s Tangkak (116).

Forty-five areas recorded moderate API readings while 15 areas had good readings.

An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100 is moderate; 101 to 200 is unhealthy; 201 to 300 is very unhealthy; and above 300 is hazardous.

API data is released every hour, based on 68 air quality monitoring stations across the country. – Bernama, October 18, 2023.