Working Outside

As you know, doctors say if you have problems with pollen and air pollution in general...just stay home under the air conditioner.

But, what if you can't? Most of us have to get out and make a living, and some people are right out in the middle of it all, and they find ways to cope.

Andrienne Powell buys old homes and fixes them up to sell. She's done two here on Mississippi street in north Chattanooga...right in the heart of the pollen belt. Trees around here are working overtime making outdoor people miserable.

ADRIENNE POWELL "we've got a wall that we had to replace..termite and water damage..and you just do it."

The crew working on this 19th century home is not immune from the pollen-laden they are breathing. John Smith moved to Chattanooga from Tucson, Arizona.

JOHN SMITH, CHATTANOOGA "clogs up my nose..sinus, clogged up..coughing."

And...the difference between working here and his hometown?

JOHN SMITH, WORKER "IT'S A huge difference,,I go back to Tucson and I can breathe."

Chattanoogans who work in lawn care also can't pick the days they work. This crew from Joe's lawn care have been out all morning...fighting off the effects of pollen and other irritants in the air.

JOE SEAY. JOE'S LAWN CARE "I tell you what , here's some of the the equipment that we use..we use the mask here the breathing mask...to help our breathing..and use the googles to kind of help us with our eyes."

Joe says they don't always have to use the protective gear...but he says this is the worst year for pollen that he has ever seen in Chattanooga.

JOE SEAY "yeah, they have me on some medicine to help me with my breathing and with pollen and congestion and stuff."

The operative word there is medicine...doctors say there's no need to suffer with runny nose, watery eyes and coughing...even if you do have to work outdoors on days like this".