SAFE - Safe Air For Everyone

Grass field burning has been going on for 20 years or more in North Idaho. Why has it become such a health issue now?

It has always been a health issue. Over the last several years, more scientific and health information has come to light to help us understand the health impacts of grass field burning, and more and more of our neighbors and friends have reported ill health effects from the smoke. Since 1994 there have been at least three deaths which physicians have associated with grass field burning, most recently, Marsha Mason in September of 2000.

What is the effect of grass field burning on people's health?

Scientific studies have shown that there is a marked increase in heart attacks, hospitalizations, and even premature deaths from particulate matter in air pollution - the kind of pollution generated by smoke from grass field burning. North Idaho has a higher than average rate of asthma (and asthma is one of the most expensive conditions to treat). This type of air pollution is hardest on young children and the elderly, since these groups may have immune systems which are compromised. Even otherwise healthy people may experience shortness of breath, coughing, and an inability to do everyday tasks.

Another concern is the presence of toxics in grass field smoke. Researchers have identified several carcinogens including benzene and furans in grass smoke, and these toxins are known cancer-causing agents. The EPA is currently doing more research to find out how much of these toxins we are breathing from grass field burning.

Isn't the smoke really more of a temporary inconvenience rather than a real health hazard?

No, the research has shown that the chance of death and heart attacks increase with this kind of air pollution. Researchers cannot tell us yet what the effects of breathing the toxic compounds over time will be, but we do know that some of these compounds have been found to cause cancer.

If anybody doesn't like grass field smoke, all they have to do is close their windows and stay inside for a little while. That isn't so bad, is it?

Over 80% of the outside level of particulates comes into your home even if you've shut all the doors and windows, so just staying inside won't protect everyone. The only solution to the public health crisis is to ban burning entirely for grass growers.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality have rules governing air quality, and grass seed growers don't exceed them. So how can burning be a health hazard?

People don't breathe averages, they breathe the spikes in particulates, and these can and have been fatal. The rules are a bit tricky this way; since the Clean Air Act was designed with smokestack polluters such as factories in mind, the regulatory agencies had no idea that there would be the sort of pollution which could climb to fatal levels for several hours or days, and yet, when averaged over time, still came under a baseline average deemed as safe. In other words, we have a clean air standard that hurts people with acute spikes in particulates, but still appears to be in compliance with the law.

Safe Air For Everyone is a grassroots group that is committed to stopping grass field burning in North Idaho to protect and maintain public health. SAFE is involved in educating residents about the harmful effects of grass field burning, and also is pursuing legal and legislative avenues to reach its goal on both the state and federal levels. People from throughout the Inland Northwest are joining SAFE to have their sentiments heard by decision-makers.

There are a lot of North Idaho residents who support grass seed farmers. Grass seed farming is a big industry here in this region. It's part of our way of life and has been for many years. Why should we take away part of the farmers' livelihood and hurt our economy just because some people don't like the smoke?

We also support grass growers; we just don't believe they should be allowed to burn and endanger public health. There are viable alternatives to grass field burning. In Washington state, for instance, data clearly shows that since grass burning was banned there in 1996, both yields per acre and overall crop production has increased. The state of Oregon also outlawed most burning and still has a viable grass industry. No one has to lose their right to earn a living from growing grass while at the same time protecting public health. We want to be clear that we don't oppose the grass seed industry; we simply oppose the practice of grass field burning.