There are ways to fight those noisy leaf blowers

Regarding “Fed Up With Noisy Leaf Blowers” by Stephen Glassman and Donie Vanitzian, Nov. 17: It is ironic that in a state where smoking is banned in bars and filters are fitted to gasoline pumps, residents are subjected to carcinogenic fumes from garden equipment.

While most indicators of smog have decreased in the Southland in recent years, pollution from unburned fuel -- such as that expelled from two-stroke gardening engines -- continues to rise.

It is only a matter of time before the evidence is strong enough to ban these engines statewide, but until then, there are several steps we can take.

If you live in Los Angeles, you are lucky enough to have the law on your side, and you can make local law enforcement aware that you consider your health and peace a priority. Other actions that you can take include finding a gardening service that is committed to blower-free gardening.

Condo residents can rake and sweep themselves; it saves everyone money on hired gardeners, is pleasant and is better for the plants (most local hedges will not bloom because they are over-edged, and many flowers and shrubs are weed-whacked out of existence).

If you move, let the board (or landlord) know that the disruptive gardening was a factor.

Jay L. Nadeau

Altadena