Serian tops unhealthy air quality readings as 21 areas affected
KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-one areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as at 8am today.
As of 8am today, 21 areas across Malaysia have been recorded to have unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, according to the Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS). The highest API readings were reported in three areas of Sarawak - IPD Serian (182), Samarahan (168), and Sri Aman (164). Additionally, two areas in Johor - Larkin (162) and Pasir Gudang (155) - also recorded unhealthy API readings.
Other affected areas include Putrajaya, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, and Batu Pahat, Johor, all with API readings of 154. In Selangor, Shah Alam (153) and Johan Setia (127) recorded unhealthy API readings. Cheras in Kuala Lumpur was the only area to have an unhealthy reading, at 133.
Forty-one areas in Malaysia recorded moderate API readings, while five areas had good API readings. These include Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (99), Miri, Sarawak (99), Politeknik, Kota Kinabalu (98), Tanah Merah, Kelantan (47), Sungai Petani, Kedah (41), and Alor Setar, Kedah (35).
The API scale indicates good air quality for readings of zero to 50, moderate for 51 to 100, unhealthy for 101 to 200, very unhealthy for 201 to 300, and hazardous for readings of 301 and above. Currently, Indonesia is grappling with its worst wildfires in over a decade, causing thick smog and haze. These fires, burning since last month across seven provinces on Borneo and Sumatra, are exacerbated by a drought and a Super El Niño, making them difficult to contain.
The smoke from these fires contains soot and tiny suspended particles, contributing to the haze affecting parts of Malaysia and Singapore. These particles, PM2.5, can penetrate deeply into the lungs and sometimes enter the bloodstream, posing health risks.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
