PETALING JAYA: Pasir Gudang and Larkin in Johor recorded very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of 199 and 198, respectively, as of 6pm Friday (Oct 16), the highest nationwide, according to the Environment Department's Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).
According to the APIMS, six other areas in Johor are in the unhealthy API range - Pengerang with a reading of 181, Kota Tinggi (171), Batu Pahat (both 170), Kluang (166), Tangkak (159) and Segamat (156).
In Selangor, six areas also recorded unhealthy API readings, with Johan Setia the worst hit at 178, followed by Klang (174), Petaling Jaya (169), Shah Alam (165), Banting (158) and Kuala Selangor (131).
The monitoring station in Putrajaya recorded an API of 166, while in Kuala Lumpur, the API reading in Batu Muda and Cheras were at 161 and 159, respectively.
In Negri Sembilan, areas recording unhealthy API readings were Nilai (179), Seremban (172), and Port Dickson (169), while in Melaka, Bandaraya Melaka (179), Bukit Rambai (173) and Alor Gajah (167) were in the unhealthy range.
Two areas in Perak recorded unhealthy API readings with Seri Manjung at 157 and Tanjung Malim at 156.
Two areas in Sabah recorded unhealthy API levels - Tawau (153) and Sandakan (115).
API readings of between zero and 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are categorised as hazardous.
API data is released hourly based on readings from 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide.
