As a professional research chemist for 30 years, I would like to cautiously endorse Vin Sherman’s defense of the use of dilute concentrations of dihydrogen oxide on the roadsides of Whidbey Island (Letters, March 27).

However, there has been no careful research, of which I am aware, on the detailed effect of very high dihydrogen oxide concentration on breathing problems. In some cases, very high concentrations of the substance have been known to prevent breathing entirely.

Some caution in the use of very high concentrations on our roadsides would certainly be prudent.

John Adams

Oak Harbor