Check Malaysia's API, not AQI, for local air quality, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's official Air Pollutant Index (API) should be the primary reference for assessing local air quality, as readings from international platforms such as IQAir may differ due to variations in calculation methods and index standards.
Malaysia's official Air Pollutant Index (API) should be the primary source for evaluating local air quality, according to atmospheric chemistry expert Prof Dr Mohd Talib Latif. He noted that international platforms like IQAir might present varying readings due to differences in calculation methods and index standards. The Department of Environment's (DOE) API, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) formula with breakpoints derived from Malaysia's air quality standards, cannot be directly compared with IQAir's AQI.
IQAir obtains PM2.5 concentrations from monitoring stations before applying its own formula, resulting in distinct readings that cannot be directly compared. The discrepancies between the two indices are attributed to differences in calculation methods, index standards, data sources, locations, and update times. Talib emphasized that the DOE's API should be the main reference for the public, while IQAir's readings serve better for comparing air quality across countries.
The DOE monitors air quality through 68 nationwide stations following USEPA and ISO standards, calculating the API using six major pollutants, with PM2.5 often being the dominant pollutant during haze episodes.
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