Penang air quality hit unhealthy levels before slight improvement

Penang's air quality has reached unhealthy levels according to recent monitoring, with the Minden monitoring station recording an API reading of 107 on Aug 13. This places it in the moderate category, although it was previously recorded at 107 at noon and 103 at 1pm. The Penang government has stated that API readings across the state ranged from 60 to 107 between Aug 10 and 13, with three stations remaining in the moderate category and one recording an unhealthy reading.

The increase in hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan, as reported by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre, may have contributed to the rise in air pollution. The state government has urged the public to obtain the latest API readings from official sources, reduce open burning, and take measures to minimize exposure to poor air quality, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, senior citizens, and those with respiratory issues.

Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.