If you have smelt it lately, your senses aren’t trying to trick you: the haze is back.
Triggered by hot weather and several peat fires in Kuala Langat and Sepang, the haze has worsened air quality in the Klang Valley, with the Air Pollution Index (API) reaching unhealthy levels in several areas here.
According to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, we’re still in the monsoon season which will last until mid next month, hence transboundary haze is unlikely to happen.
“The hot and dry weather also caused air pollutants in the air and worsened the haze situation today and yesterday,” the ministry said in a press statement as reported by The Star Online’s Ashley Tang.
At 3pm today, the API indicated the following readings: Petaling Jaya (103), Shah Alam (122), and Cheras (131).
“The current hot weather and an increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollutants and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) have contributed to an increase in the API readings.
“Until April 20 (Wednesday), Klang and Kuala Selangor had seen no rain for eight days in a row according to a report by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.”
Check the API in your area here.
