Better air quality but 13 areas still ‘unhealthy’

There is a slight improvement in air quality nationwide this morning, with the number of areas recording unhealthy air pollutant index (API) reading at 13 as at 8am, down from 19 at 11pm last night. The Department of Environment recorded Port Klang with the highest API reading, at 136. Other areas with unhealthy air quality are Shah Alam (127); Banting (119); Petaling Jaya (113), Putrajaya (112); Kuala Selangor (108); and Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur (107). The reading in Pasir Gudang in Johor is 111, Port Dickson (110), Seremban (108), Nilai (102), and Bandaraya Melaka and Bukit Rumbai (104). 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. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department warned of low horizontal visibility below 5km over the waters off Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, to last until Tuesday. The department in a statement this morning said the condition was dangerous to ships without navigational equipment. It said thunderstorm occurring over the waters off Mukah, Bintulu and Rejang in Sarawak are expected to continue until this morning. – October 25, 2015.]]>