Authorities say two-dozen people were being decontaminated after a chemical was released at a plant in the northwest Georgia city of Dalton.

Dalton police spokesman Bruce Frazier said people within a half-mile of the plant, on the city's southern edge, have been told to stay indoors. He said no evacuations had been ordered after the chemical was released Monday morning.

Frazier said the 24 people did not appear to be experiencing any serious symptoms, but are being checked out since the chemical can cause some skin irritation and mild respiratory problems.

Frazier told the Daily Citizen newspaper that the accident occurred when the company was manufacturing a product used in water treatment it calls Coagulant 129.

Police have closed some roads around the plant, MFG Chemical Inc.

Tags: Dalton, chemical release, MFG Chemical Inc., Bruce Frazier