IOWA NEWS SERVICE
Contact: Dick Layman 4534 Oakwood Drive Pleasant Hill, Iowa
e-mail: [log in to unmask] - voice: (515) 299-3965

ACTUALITY LINE: 1-888-805-0062 - ID Code: 07

October 31, 2005

The Most Dangerous Time Of Year To Breathe

Cedar Falls, IA --- The leaf burning season has begun across Iowa.  It's a
season that Iowans with respiratory problems dread. Many communities have
outlawed the practice, but in  a majority of the state it's still allowed.
Cedar Falls citizen participant Cathy Livingston led the fight to ban 
burning in
her community.

Suggested script:  IOWA AIR QUALITY OFFICIALS SAY THIS TIME OF YEAR IS WHEN 
YOU
CAN ACTUALLY SEE AIR POLLUTION AS SMOKE FROM BURNING LEAVES HANGS OVER THE
LANDSCAPE OF MANY COMMUNITIES. THE MICROSCOPIC SOOT FROM THAT SMOKE CAUSES 
ALL
SORTS OF HEALTH PROBLEMS.  WHILE SOME IOWA COMMUNITIES HAVE BANNED THE 
PRACTICE,
OTHERS HAVE NOT.  CATHY LIVINGSTON FOUGHT FOR OVER 3 YEARS TO OUTLAW BURNING 
IN
CEDAR FALLS; SHE STARTED BY SIMPLY ASKING NEIGHBORS TO STOP.  THEIR 
RESPONSES
WERE NOT POSITIVE.
Actuality Cut #64%%ID%% (TRT :12) "'You should just leave then on a day I'm
burning,' or 'that's too bad' - and that's not acceptable because everyone 
has
the right to breathe relativity clean air."

SHE SAYS IT TOOK THE THREAT OF A LAWSUIT TO GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO AGREE TO 
THE
BAN, BUT IN THE NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE LEAF BURNING WAS STOPPED, THERE HAS 
BEEN
A REMARKABLE CHANGE,  BREATHABLE AIR AND NO RANCID SMELL.

Actuality Cut #65%ID%% (TRT 07) "Some of these areas where there's just many
many many trees, people tell me it's dramatically different."

Suggested tag: LIVINGSTON SAYS BURNING LEAVES IS A HABIT THAT IS HARD FOR 
SOME
HOMEOWNERS TO BREAK, BUT IF ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE IN A COMMUNITY, SUCH 
AS
COMPOSTING, IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCEPT THE CHANGE.
Editor's note: Cathy Livingston is available for interviews at 319-266-2455. 
For
more information on alternatives to burning contact the Iowa D.N.R.

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