FORT WAYNE – Northeast Indiana’s air will be unhealthy to breathe today, especially for people with asthma or other lung problems, state officials warn.

Friday’s air was forecast to be moderately unhealthy because of ozone, but today the air may be “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The forecasts are made based on air-quality monitors and weather forecasts.

Ozone is particularly troublesome in the summer when sunlight triggers a chemical reaction, combining it with pollutants that produces smog.

Active children and adults, older adults and people with heart or lung disease should limit or avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. If breathing becomes difficult, people should go indoors and contact a health care provider.

Even at low levels, breathing ground-level ozone can trigger a variety of health problems for people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

To reduce ozone levels:

•Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation.

•Avoid using the drive-thru, combine errands into one trip, and turn off the engine when idling for more than 10 seconds.

•Maintain proper air pressure in tires.

•Delay lawn mowing or car fueling until after 7 p.m.

•Conserve electricity by turning off lights and computers when not in use.

For more information, go to the IDEM Smog Watch website at www.in.gov/apps/idem/smog, call 1-800-631-2871 or go to www.thecleanairforce.org.