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Hazy Conditions Tough On Respiratory Patients

Forecasters Expect Winds To Return This Weekend

POSTED: 3:20 pm HST February 22, 2008
UPDATED: 3:31 pm HST February 22, 2008

Light winds resulted in a lot of haze over Oahu and some of the neighbor islands on Friday. The hazy weather isn't just bad to look at; it is something that people with respiratory problems can feel.

You could not help but see the haze.

People who have respiratory problems like asthma can especially be affected by the conditions.

"I really noticed it the last two, three days in particular. I felt, just -- I'm hurting," Beth Ann Kozlovich said.

Kozlovich is with the American Lung Association of Hawaii. She said when the haze gets thick it can cause problems for just about anybody.

"If you have asthma, if you have lung disease, (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) -- all kinds of lung issues, obviously you may have felt this far more than someone else. Although we know anyone can feel this, and of course we want everyone to have healthy lungs and feel good," she said.

Some of the haze is volcanic smoke from the Big Island. On Oahu, some of it is the byproduct of urban living. While trucks and cars are running cleaner, there are still enough everyday emissions that when there is absolutely no wind the resulting pollutants are left hovering.

If you want some relief, the lung association said stay indoors or have a lukewarm glass of water.

"Now, usually most of us don't drink enough anyway, but especially when there's vog in the air, or fireworks for that matter, you need to make sure you're taking in a lot of liquids. Usually warm liquids are better than cool liquids," Kozlovich said.

Relief in the form of wind is expected this weekend.

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