Petaling Jaya among 30 areas with unhealthy air

 Its API reading reached 149 at 9am while Serian in Sarawak recorded the country’s highest reading at 180.

Petaling Jaya recorded an API reading of 149 at 9am today, placing it in the unhealthy category. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Petaling Jaya joined the list of areas with unhealthy air quality as of 9am today, reaching 149 on the air pollutant index (API) as haze conditions worsen across the country.

According to data from the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System portal, 30 monitoring stations across 10 states and federal territories recorded API levels in the unhealthy range of 101 to 200.

Sarawak and Selangor recorded the most affected areas, with five and six stations respectively. Serian recorded the country’s highest reading at 180, followed by Johan Setia in Selangor at 175.

Other affected areas in Sarawak were Sri Aman (168), Kuching (164), Samarahan (157) and Sarikei (152).

In Selangor, Shah Alam recorded 162, followed by Kuala Selangor (156), Klang and Banting (152 each).

Perak recorded five unhealthy readings: Tanjung Malim at 155, followed by Seri Manjung (154), Tasek Ipoh (153), Taiping (152) and Pegoh Ipoh (134).

Johor had four affected areas, with Segamat, Batu Pahat and Tangkak each recording 152, and Kota Tinggi recording 125.

Penang recorded three unhealthy readings, with Minden at 154, Balik Pulau at 152 and Seberang Perai at 136.

Negeri Sembilan recorded two, with Nilai at 155 and Seremban at 153, while Melaka’s Bukit Rambai and Alor Gajah recorded 155 and 149 respectively.

Sungai Petani in Kedah recorded 152, while Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya recorded 155 and 157 respectively.

Thirty-seven areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality.

An API reading of 0 to 50 indicates good air quality; 51 to 100, moderate; 101 to 200, unhealthy; 201 to 300, very unhealthy; and 300 and above, hazardous.

The environment department is continuing to monitor the country’s ambient air quality through 68 monitoring stations to detect any significant changes that could affect public health.

Hot weather alert

Meanwhile, the meteorological department (MetMalaysia) issued a Level 1 hot weather alert for 17 areas across the country.

A Level 1 alert is issued when the maximum daily temperature in an area reaches between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days.

In a statement, MetMalaysia said 11 of the areas were in the peninsula: Larut and Matang, Kuala Kangsar, Kampar and Batang Padang in Perak; Kuala Krai in Kelantan; Kuantan, Raub, Temerloh and Pekan in Pahang; as well as Hulu Selangor and Gombak in Selangor.

Telupid, Tenom, Sandakan, Pitas and Beluran in Sabah were also issued the alert, as well as Marudi in Sarawak.  - FMT