KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — Air quality worsened across the country this afternoon, with 23 of the nation's 68 monitoring stations recording unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, according to the Department of Environment (DOE).

As of 4.50pm, 41 stations recorded moderate air quality and four were in the good range. No station recorded very unhealthy or hazardous levels. An Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 101 to 200 is classed as unhealthy.

Pasir Gudang in Johor recorded the highest reading at 174, followed by Kota Tinggi, also in Johor, at 170. Seremban in Negeri Sembilan was third at 167, followed by Pengerang in Johor at 166 and Nilai in Negeri Sembilan at 164.

Johor had seven stations in the unhealthy range. Besides Pasir Gudang, Kota Tinggi and Pengerang, the others were Larkin at 160, Batu Pahat at 156, Tangkak at 152 and Kluang at 151. Segamat, which was in the unhealthy range this morning, no longer appeared on the list.