Letter: Pay attention to science, live better

Remember when smoking in restaurants, offices, buses and airplanes was normal? Fortunately, our society paid attention to public health sciences, we changed our culture and we are better for it.

We are in the same situation with a culture that is at ease with spraying lawns for cosmetic purposes. It is well-known and based on ample evidence that lawn weed killers pose unacceptable risks to child health and also pollute local streams. Managing turf areas without weed killers is easy, practical and will not harm anyone. It is time to change our attitude about lawns.

A team of students and faculty at University of Northern Iowa have launched Good Neighbor Iowa, a statewide campaign to invite school districts, park managers and child care centers to manage their grounds without the use of cosmetic weed killers, to protect child health and water quality.

Many communities are leading this important cultural transformation based on science. Look who is leading at goodneighboriowa.org and we invite you to join this much-needed work.

Brock Hefel

Cedar Falls