Hazards of Diesel Exhaust

Re “Diesel Exhaust Found to Pose Strong Cancer Risk,” April 23: It’s amazing that the astounding discovery of findings by a group of scientists stated that emissions from diesel-fueled buses, trucks, etc. cause cancer and other diseases and are generally depicted to cause extremely unhealthy conditions.

Frankly, anyone living in the Los Angeles Basin would only take about 10 seconds to make the same discovery after sitting behind one of these vehicles on the road. It is appalling that our lawmakers allow the air to be poisoned by these vehicles.

When are they going to wise up and correct this harmful problem?

FRANK ABRAMOFF

Beverly Hills

* Wait just one minute! Of those 14,850 who could die due to secondhand exposure to diesel smoke, how many are also a part of the 232,572 who may die from secondhand cigarette smoke?

These so-called statisticians are just playing into a government seeking more and more taxes to pursue top-down programs which ultimately can buy votes.

How about a $2.50-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel? That should make them happy.

SAMUEL L. CLARK II

Redondo Beach