Pertubuhan Sains & Kesejahteraan
Science & Wellness Organisation
(PPM-013-05-16022012)
Alarming CO Levels Detected Over Kuala Lumpur on
17 May 2025 at 12am
Today’s real-time air quality data shows a critically high carbon monoxide (CO) concentration of 1021 ppbv over Kuala Lumpur, the highest in Malaysia. This dangerous level of pollution stretches across Seremban and surrounding areas, putting millions at risk.
At SWO, we’ve been monitoring these patterns across Asia, and the data is clear that Malaysia is in a public health danger zone. CO exposure at this scale can worsen respiratory conditions, especially for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing illnesses.
How Important Is Oxygen to Our Body
In 2023, 18,181 deaths were attributed to pneumonia in Malaysia, which became the leading cause of death, related with poor
air quality, particularly during haze events.
Airborne pollutants are responsible for about one third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer, as well as one quarter of deaths from heart attack. Air pollution is also fundamentally altering our climate, with profound impacts on the health of the planet.
Addressing Malaysia's Air Pollution Crisis
"7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution."
-World Health Organization (WHO)
Every Breath Counts
Achieving the SDGs with the Clean Air Campaign
Allies in Action
The Forces Fueling SWO Clean Air Campaign 2025
Air Pollution & Pneumonia:
A Global Health Crisis Confirmed by WHO
Explore verified reports and scientific studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealing the alarming connection between air pollution and pneumonia. These findings highlight how toxic air is contributing to rising pneumonia cases globally, with children under 5 and other vulnerable groups facing the highest risk. This is not just a health issue, it is a life-threatening crisis demanding urgent global attention.
Air Pollution and Pneumonia
Air pollution is silently causing pneumonia and lung cancer, killing our children and elderly. This isn’t a theory, it’s a proven fact backed by WHO, the UN, and Malaysia’s own health experts.
Is the Air You Breathe Making You Sick?
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Chest Pain
Confusion
Fever and Chills
Nausea and Vomiting
Fatigue
Know the Health Risks:
Air Pollution at Home and Outdoors
Ambient (Outdoor) Air Pollution
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Air pollution is silently killing us. Each year, it causes millions of early deaths from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and asthma. In 2014, a staggering 92% of the global population lived in areas where the air was too polluted to be safe. In 2012 alone, outdoor air pollution claimed 3 million lives and most of them in developing Asian countries like ours.
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The air we breathe has become toxic. And it’s not just outside. Inside homes, 3 billion people still rely on coal and wood to cook and heat their spaces, breathing in deadly smoke every single day. Women and children suffer the most, often paying with their health.
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We cannot afford to ignore this anymore. Cleaner public transport, energy-efficient buildings, and safer household fuels are not luxuries, they are lifesaving solutions. Reducing air pollution is not only about saving the planet,it’s about saving lives now.
UN Report:
Toxic Air Threatens Public Health and Children's Lives
Explore how the United Nations confronts the escalating crisis of air pollution and its devastating effects on children, the elderly, and vulnerable communities worldwide, highlighting urgent action to protect public health and future generations.
Pneumonia in Children
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Pneumonia killed over 740,000 children under 5 in just one year. That’s one child dying every 42 seconds. It's not just a disease, it’s the #1 infectious killer of children worldwide.
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This isn’t just about viruses or bacteria. It’s about what your child breathes every single day.
Indoor air pollution from cooking with wood, coal, or even just living in a smoky or crowded home, is poisoning our children. The lungs meant to breathe in life are instead filling with pus and fluid. And once pneumonia strikes, most children never get the treatment they need.
A Deadly Surge:
Pneumonia Is Killing More Malaysians Than Ever
This collection of Malaysian news and health reports uncovers a disturbing truth: pneumonia cases are rising and toxic air is one of the main culprits. Our children, elderly, and vulnerable are falling victim to polluted lungs. This is no longer a warning, it’s a national health crisis in motion. If we don’t act now, more lives will be lost to the very air we breathe.
How many more must suffer before Malaysia takes air pollution seriously?
Your support helps us track toxic air, inform the public, and prevent illness.
Help us act before more lives are lost.
How Air Pollution Fuels COVID-19
COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and Deaths:
Global and Malaysia Overview
Malaysia's Current Active COVID-19 Cases
Malaysia’s Air Quality Exceeds Global Health Standards
Air pollution levels across Malaysia from urban centers to rural communities have consistently exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended limits, putting millions at risk every day.
WHO Air Quality Guidelines
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Air Quality Data:
Pollutant Concentrations in Malaysia
How many more lives must be lost before we face the facts?
Pneumonia cases and respiratory-related deaths are rising in Malaysia, yet the air is still being reported as “safe”. If air quality is under control, the data should reflect that clearly and transparently. We all have a role to play in protecting public health, starting with acknowledging the urgency and supporting efforts that drive real, science-based solutions.
Transparency on air quality is not a request it’s a public responsibility.
Malaysians deserve accurate, timely, and unfiltered data about the air we breathe.
