To the editor:

According to Reuters, a recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal showed that burning candles and incense in churches can release dangerous levels of potentially carcinogenic particles.

The author of the study stated that “The exposures are worrisome, not so much for the occasional church-goer, but priests, choirs, and other people working in churches may have significant exposure.”

As a citizen of a lung-health conscious community such as Lawrence, I would urge the City Commission to immediately look into the possibility of such threats to public health. How unfair is it that we promote safer work environments for bartenders and servers, while ignoring the potential risks that face our clergy, choirs and regular church attendees?

Personally, I do not attend any of our local churches, but I am very concerned for the well-being of those who do. I would be more than happy to support a citywide ban in all places of worship on the use of dangerous candles and incense, particularly during the upcoming candle-happy holiday season.

Although I wish that these issues could remain a matter of personal choice, I understand the importance of having a City Commission dedicated to protecting its citizens from evil and tainted air. I encourage the City Commission to provide this protection to all of our citizens who may unwittingly allow themselves to be exposed to evil and tainted air, not just our local bar and wait staff.

Kalli Sanders,

Lawrence