Downpour clears smog, air quality improves nationwide

The air quality has improved today as a result of heavy rain and thunderstorms in parts of Peninsular Malaysia last night.

The Department of Environment (DOE) reported that at 7am, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings showed no ‘hazardous' or ‘very unhealthy' areas.

However, the air quality in 13 areas including parts of the Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan and Perak is still categorised as ‘unhealthy', while the rest of the country falls in the ‘moderate' category.

The worst regions recorded readings between 100 and 150, a significant improvement from yesterday where Port Klang (Selangor) hit 484, joined by Shah Alam (Selangor) and Banting (Perak), both of which broke the 300 mark.

This morning the API reading in Port Klang was 140. Other areas which also recorded unhealthy levels with a reading in excess of 100 are Bukit Rambai (Malacca) and Nilai, Port Dickson and Seremban (all in Negeri Sembilan). Nilai recorded the highest reading this morning at 148.

The others are Ipoh, Seri Manjung, Tanjung Malim (all in Perak) and Banting, Kuala Selangor, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam (all in Selangor) and Putrajaya.

The API reading in Kuala Lumpur is also nearing unhealthy level at Cheras and Batu Muda with the two nearly breaching the 101 level.

The bulk of the country at 35 areas recorded moderate levels while four areas recorded healthy level.

According to the API, a reading of 0-5 denotes good air quality; 51-100 (moderate); 101-200 (unhealthy); 201-300 (very unhealthy); above 301 (hazardous to human health).

The trans-boundary air pollution is blamed on land-clearing activities in Sumatra.

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