Editor,

During the May 17 county Board of Health meeting, the county health officer, when asked by Commissioner Jill Johnson to provide statistical evidence of Growler-induced health claims — the same claims rejected in federal court last year — made this amazing statement at the 1:21 mark:

“That’s really complicated … I think noise exposure is in that same category [as high cholesterol] … years of exposure will not kill you at the moment … long term exposure [to aircraft noise] does pump up blood pressure, does pump up heart rate, does pump up cortisol — over the long haul that resets potentially — that one theory that is a mechanism of hypertension. It does reset those values in your body … that is what is happening.”

“We would not be having this discussion if it was a civilian airport. The numbers are huge, they [civilian airport] would be shut down. Only because this is an exempted facility are we having this conversation.”

There are two major problems with these statements:

n Going from speculation to pronounced fact of “that is what is happening” and “NASWI would be shut down if a civilian airport” without a single shred of scientific data is doing the board a disservice. The commissioner asked for data — not speculative opinion.

n There is, in fact, quality data that shows the opposite of this “theory.” From the online Washington State Department of Health website, table Table C6 — Major cardiovascular disease by county of residence, Island County has the fifth lowest mortality rate for age adjusted, major cardiovascular disease, out of 39 counties.

Moreover, this heart induced mortality rate has decreased 26 percent from 2008, about the time the Growler flights started.

Bottom line, we really need our medical professionals to research data and facts prior to stating an unfounded or politically aligned opinion to elected board members — it is that simple.

Scott Smith

Oak Harbor