KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Several states in the peninsula including Kedah, Penang, Perak, Melaka, Johor and Negeri Sembilan recorded higher Air Pollutant Index (API) reading from moderate to unhealthy level which exceeds 101.

Based on Malaysia Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) as at 10 am, 24 stations have readings at unhealthy level while Johan Setia in Klang, Selangor remained as the only area with very unhealthy API at 209.

The five areas in Selangor which reported unhealthy API are Kuala Selangor (104), Petaling Jaya (139), Shah Alam (135), Klang (128) and Banting (123).

Also having unhealthy API are Nilai (126), Seremban (105) and Port Dickson (102) in Negeri Sembilan; Bukit Rambai (102) and Melaka City (105) in Melaka; Batu Muda (152) and Cheras (144) in Kuala Lumpur; Segamat (104) and Tangkak (113) in Johor; Putrajaya (140) and Rompin, Pahang (161).

Other areas with unhealthy air quality are Minden (113), Balik Pulau (111) and Seberang Jaya (105) in Penang; Tasek (117) and Pegoh (101) in Ipoh and Seri Manjung (124) in Perak as well as Sungai Petani (109) and Kulim Hi-Tech(108), Kedah.

Meanwhile 43 areas in the Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak recorded moderate API.

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