SHAH ALAM, Aug 29 - Five areas in Selangor recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings as of 4pm today, with Shah Alam recording the highest reading in the state at 157.
According to data from the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, the other affected areas were Johan Setia (155), Petaling Jaya (152), Kuala Selangor (121) and Klang (120).
The readings placed all five areas in the “unhealthy” air quality category, which covers API readings between 101 and 200.
Sarawak remained the worst-affected state, with Sri Aman and Serian topping the list with very unhealthy API readings of 229 and 228 respectively.
Eight other areas in Sarawak also recorded unhealthy readings namely Sarikei at 194, followed by Samarahan (185), Kuching (180), Mukah (171), Sibu (166), Bintulu (156), Kapit (156) and Samalaju (149).
Overall, 29 areas across six states and two Federal Territories recorded unhealthy API readings, while 36 areas nationwide recorded moderate air quality.
Besides Selangor and Sarawak, the affected areas were in Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are classified as hazardous.
API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.
