The air quality has worsened with another seven areas registering unhealthy air pollutant index (API), bringing the total to 14 as at 2pm today.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE) portal, the areas were Nilai which recorded an API of 108; Seremban (106); Shah Alam (104); Putrajaya (103); Port Dickson (103); Petaling Jaya (101) and Batu Muda, Kuala Lumpur (107).

Seven other areas registered unhealthy API with Tawau, Sabah registering the highest API of 123; Port Klang (112); Malacca City (115); Banting, Selangor (112); Samarahan, Sarawak (109); Bukit Rambai, Malacca (108) and Kuching (101).

Meanwhile 27 areas registered a moderate API reading, among them Sri Aman, Sarawak (100); Tanjung Malim, Perak (91); SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh and Balok Baru, Kuantan (90); Larkin Lama, Johor (87) and Kuala Selangor (83).

Eleven areas retained good reading, including Langkawi (48); SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Bharu (45); Kangar, Perlis (38); Tanah Merah, Kelantan (35); Kota Kinabalu (34); Miri, Sarawak (34) and Sandakan, Sabah (32).

Seven unhealthyareas at 9am

Earlier, seven areas registered unhealthy API as at 9am.

The DOE recorded Port Klang (107), Banting and Tawau, both (106), joined Samarahan (111), Malacca City (109), Bukit Rambai and Kuching (Sarawak) (102) as areas with unhealthy API.

Thirty-two areas throughout the country registered moderate API, including Putrajaya and Nilai (96); Sri Aman (Sarawak), Batu Muda, Port Dickson, Seremban (95); Shah Alam (93); Petaling Jaya (90); Tanjung Malim, Perak (85) and SK Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh (84).

Thirteen areas, among them Kapit, Sarawak (49); Kuala Terengganu (48); Langkawi (44); SMK Tanjung Chat, Kota Baru (43); Kangar, Perlis (37); Sandakan, Sabah (34) and Miri, Sarawak (33) registered good API.

An API of between 0 to 50 is good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101 to 200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy) and 301 and above (dangerous).

The public can refer to the apims.doe.gov.my portal for the latest API readings.

- Bernama