‘Poetry and Smog’

I couldn’t agree more with your editorial (Jan. 2), “Poetry and Smog.” I think we should be doing everything we can to reduce air pollution. I’m glad to see that common sense has been vindicated by the Air Resources Board study, which showed that reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx), one of the major components of ozone, leads to less ozone.

As a person who exercises outdoors a great deal, I think it is terrible that our air is not fit to breathe for at least a third of the year. This makes trying to improve one’s health by exercising a treacherous undertaking. It also diminishes the enjoyment I get hiking in the nearby mountains when the scenic views are wiped out by a layer of gray haze.

I hope that now industries, regulators and legislators will stop arguing and start taking more and bigger steps toward cleaning our air.

MARK SPELLMAN

Canoga Park