26 areas record unhealthy air quality nationwide this morning

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 26 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 8am today.

According to the Department of Environment's Air Pollutant Index Management System portal, Tasek Ipoh recorded an API of 182 while Seri Manjung followed closely at 179. Both areas are in Perak.

Sungai Petani in Kedah and Pegoh Ipoh in Perak also crossed into unhealthy territory, both recording readings of 160, followed by Johan Setia in Selangor at 158.

Several other areas including Minden, Penang (157), Seberang Jaya (155), Taiping (157), Cheras, (157), Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (156), Putrajaya (157) and Nilai (157) also registered unhealthy.

In Sarawak, IPD Serian's API has fallen sharply to 92, placing it firmly in the moderate band.

Other areas recording moderate readings were Kuala Selangor (99), Segamat (98), Besut (98), Tanah Merah (97), Temerloh (96), Indera Mahkota Kuantan (95), Kemaman (95), Kuching (95), Kota Baru (94), Paka (93), Balok Baru Kuantan (89), Larkin (87), Alor Setar (85), Port Dickson (84), Pasir Gudang (83) and Rompin (82).

Under the DoE's classification, an API reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy and above 300 is hazardous.