Healthy debate over smog

Re “Study Doubles Estimate of Smog Deaths,” March 25

California’s death rate from lung and bronchus cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, is 17% lower than the national average and falling faster than in all but four states. Los Angeles County, the smog capital of the world, has a lower lung cancer death rate than every state except New Mexico, Hawaii and Utah. Parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties are cited as being especially vulnerable because of “sooty smog.” Yet lung cancer deaths in these counties rank 27th and 33rd, respectively, in California.

Any study of human disease can find aberrations in data sets, but the facts are irrefutable. California is one of the healthiest states in the nation.

RICHARD J. STEGEMEIER

Anaheim

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When I was a child in the late 1960s in Pomona, there were many days when “smog alerts” forced us to stay indoors, and it hurt even to breathe. Things are better, but we have not yet achieved safe air quality.

If we truly care about children and our future, we need to take immediate steps to remedy the pollution situation, including better public transportation and less reliance on goods that must be transported via diesel ships and trucks. For instance, I wish we were preserving land for growing the produce we need rather than subdividing it all for housing and roads.

SANDRA M. RICHARDS

Los Angeles