Haze: Reduce outdoor activities if API hits 100

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12  -- The public is advised to avoid outdoor activities if the air pollutant index (API) exceeds 100, an index classified as unhealthy.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said extra attention should be given to children and those with respiratory and heart disease who are more likely to be affected by exposure to haze.

“Limit outdoor activities to only crucial ones, and shorten the time outside. Avoid physical activities that will increase respiratory efforts while outdoors,” he said in a statement today.

He also advised the public to use N95 nose-and-mouth masks as it is most effective for use in dusty and hazy conditions.

Those suffering from symptoms and signs such as cough, colds, asthma, eye pain and lung infection should go to the clinic for proper examination and treatment.

According to the Department of Environment (DOE), 16 areas were reported to have unhealthy API readings until 11 am, with Johan Setia, Selangor recording a very unhealthy reading of 211.

Updates on the API are available at http://apims.doe.gov.my/.

--BERNAMA