Support opponents of wood smoke

Just because man has burned wood for centuries doesn't mean it should be ignored as a major source of air pollution at a time when we have to start questioning the way we live because of the proven hazards of fine particulate pollution.

Shouldn't we applaud a citizen who cares enough and is informed enough to get the word out about insidious wood smoke?

What if no one dared to tell us that cigarette smoke can cause birth defects and cancer? Should we all enshroud ourselves in the cloak of our "rights" and carry ourselves and others to the grave out of ignorance?

Tobacco smoke wasn't questioned for years -- until the harms of it were proven without question. What we know about tobacco smoke is true of wood smoke.

If the man from Palatine's wife has severe asthma, it likely has been exacerbated by wood smoke, but because public ignorance is high on the topic, she is unaware of how this is harming her health--and that of others.

Come on, folks, we need to take a hard look at how we can pollute less, and especially how we pollute for "fun!" There are safer alternatives.

The more complex the society, the more we need guidelines on how to protect the public -- and the planet.

Julie Mellum

President

Take Back the Air

Minneapolis, Minn