By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 17: Kuching and Serian recorded “Unhealthy” Air Pollutant Index (API) readings this morning, as haze conditions returned to parts of Sarawak following a brief respite the previous day.
As of 10am, Kuching recorded an API reading of 152, while Serian registered 145, placing both areas in the “Unhealthy” category, according to data from the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak.
The deterioration marks a sharp change from conditions recorded 24 hours earlier, when air quality across most of the State remained within the “Good” or “Moderate” range.
However, Lubok Antu, which was the only monitoring station in the State classified as “Unhealthy” yesterday with a reading of 123, has improved significantly, with its API dropping to 79 today, placing it back in the “Moderate” category.
NREB data showed 13 other monitoring stations recording “Moderate” air quality, with readings between 51 and 100.
They were Tebedu (98), Samarahan (91), Lundu (91), Betong (MCAQM) (84), Sri Aman (76), Bintulu (62), Sibu (61), Samalaju (58), Miri (54), ILP Miri (54), Bario (54), Limbang (52) and Lawas (52).
Four stations recorded “Good” air quality, with readings between 0 and 50, namely Sarikei (49), Mukah (42), Kapit (40) and Kanowit (35).
Bario, which recorded the cleanest air in the State yesterday with an API of just 13, saw its reading rise to 54 today, moving into the “Moderate” category.
Under NREB’s API guidelines, readings between 101 and 200 are classified as “Unhealthy” and may aggravate existing health conditions, particularly among vulnerable groups and those with heart or lung problems. — DayakDaily
