KUALA LUMPUR: Air quality dropped to the unhealthy level in eight places in the country this afternoon, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).

It identified these places as Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani, in Kedah (where the Air Pollutant Index was 111); Kampung Air Putih, Taiping (139); Seri Manjung (113) and Tanjung Malim (109) in Perak; Seberang Jaya Dua, Perai (110), in Penang; and Kuala Selangor (146), Port Klang (148) and Shah Alam (101) in Selangor.

Twenty-nine places had air quality at the moderate level.

An API reading of between zero and 50 indicates good air quality; between 51 and 100, moderate; between 101 and 200, unhealthy; between 201 and 300, very unhealthy and over 301, hazardous.

Members of the public can refer to the DOE portal at http://www.doe.gov.my to find out the API reading for their areas. – BERNAMA