Breathing may be troublesome for half of Chattanooga's residents

Traffic moves down Interstate 24 as haze covers the Chattanooga area in 2006.
Traffic moves down Interstate 24 as haze covers the Chattanooga area in 2006.

A code orange health watch has been declared for ozone in Chattanooga on Friday, with an air quality index of 105.

That means that the city's air could have negative health effects for up to 50 percent of the population, officials warned.

Active children and adults, and people with lung disease such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

In addition to staying inside, officials suggest residents should drive less and at slower speeds, adjust the thermostat to use less power and keep blinds drawn in an effort to reduce pollution in the area.

People at risk could experience irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, reduced lung function, inflamed and damaged lung lining, aggravated asthma symptoms and an increased risk of lung illness, according to the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau.

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