Friday June 12, 2009
Port Klang first to record unhealthy air
By NURBAITI HAMDAN
PETALING JAYA: Port Klang is the first place in the country to record “unhealthy” air quality – from 82 (moderate) to 125.
The main cause for its deteriorating air quality was ground level ozone, a condition where abnormally high concentrations of chemical processes brought about by human activities cause smog, according to the Air Pollutant Index (API) on the Department of Environment’s website.
Among the activities include the release of volatile organic compounds from exhausts of motorised vehicles and industries.
Hazy days: The difference in air quality yesterday compared with Wednesday (top) in Klang. As at 5pm yesterday, Tanjung Malim was just behind Port Klang, recording 93 on the scale.
Readings of between 0 and 50 denote good air quality while that of between 51 and 100 is moderate.
Air quality is considered unhealthy for readings of 101 to 200, very unhealthy from 201 to 300 and hazardous if above 300.
Other areas on the list were Kuala Selangor (78), Seri Manjung in Perak (77) and Muar (77).
Last year, Tanjung Malim was listed as unhealthy at 110.
All areas registered particulates or fine, tiny particles of solids or liquids suspended in a gas as the primary cause of poor air quality apart from Port Klang, Tanjung Malim and Cheras (73) which recorded ground level ozone.
Kangar in Perlis and Sandakan in Sabah recorded the best air reading at 30, followed by Tawau with 31.
Kota Tinggi in Johor and Limbang in Sarawak recorded 32 and 33 respectively while Universiti Sains Malaysia had 39. According to Singapore’s Meteorological Services Division, Sumatra had the highest count for hotspots at 100.
On Wednesday, 23 hotspots were detected in Sabah and Sarawak by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre.
Meanwhile, a statement from the National Climatic Data Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States said the combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for April ranked fifth warmest since worldwide records began in 1880.
Useful link:
Dept of Environment, Air Pollutant Index
News Poll
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
- Heartbreaking wait for mum
- The world just got bigger
- Sodomy II: Judge decision on recusing himself on Feb 18
- Opposition leaders decry court’s ruling
- Thumbs-up for Najib
- 5-0 for BN’s Zambry
- Saiful files report over death threat
- WWF: Orang asli being used
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- 60 lose RM25mil in gold investment scam
- Canberra to set new skills list
- Fleet card cloning ring busted with arrest of trio
- Saiful files report over death threat
- Sodomy II: Judge decision on recusing himself on Feb 18
- Toyota puts the brakes on problem
- Manila joins hunt for Semporna gunmen
- MAS offers CNY bargains
- Kek Lok Si all lit up to welcome Year of the Tiger
- Man posted doctored photos of Nik Aziz
RSS
