Letters

Latah and Whitman Counties physicians letter
Kootenai County physicians letter
The letter to the North Idaho Farmers Association

January 18, 2002

Dear Neighbors,

We, physicians of Kootenai County, join our colleagues in Sandpoint in calling for an end to agricultural field burning in North Idaho. Scientific evidence conclusively documents that particulate air pollution, such as that generated by agricultural field burning, increases the incidence of respiratory and cardiac disease.

For years, our first-hand experience has shown us that the pattern and intensity of smoke exposure caused by field burning is particularly harmful to many individuals, especially those with cardiac and respiratory illnesses.

We recognize that farming bestows benefits on communities it serves and that growers have legitimate concerns about ending field burning. However, we feel that the suffering of those adversely affected by field smoke is without adequate justification.

We support in particular efforts to preserve the economic viability of agriculture in our communities while, most importantly, bringing the practice of field burning to an end before others are needlessly endangered.

Signed,