Despite being a chronic nuisance and public health hazard, gas-powered leaf blowers are becoming more common and more powerful. The toxic exhaust, dangerous dust, and extreme noise they create is harmful to everyone, especially children and seniors. Bottom line: while gas-powered leaf blowers may seem like a mere annoyance to be endured, they are actually a serious threat to public health and the environment.
THE FACTS ARE CLEAR
- The U.S. EPA has shown that gas-powered leaf blowers expose workers and the public to high levels of benzene, butadiene, formaldehyde, fine particulates and other toxic and carcinogenic emissions.
- The American Lung Association, American Heart Association, World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have each reported on the dangerous health risks associated with exposure to these types of emissions – including cancer, lung disease, respiratory illnesses and dementia.
- Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the fine particulates and toxic emissions created by gas blowers. Pets and wildlife are also harmed by the pollution and noise.
- Gas-powered leaf blowers produce unusually high levels of noise, which has been shown to pose serious risks of hearing loss, hypertension, and productivity loss.
- Noise generated from leaf blowers has been shown to negatively impact cognitive development in children.
- Testing shows that gas-powered leaf blowers have a significantly greater low-frequency sound component than electric blowers. This type of sound travels farther, penetrates walls and windows more readily, and impacts/annoys more people and households than electric blowers.
- The hurricane-force wind blasts generated by gas leaf blowers destroy habitats for beneficial insects and deplete topsoil.
- Gas leaf blower manufacturers recommend a safe distance of 50 feet between leaf blowers and bystanders. This is nearly impossible to maintain in urban environments.
- Gas-powered leaf blowers burn fossil fuels. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline are consumed every year to maintain our lawns and gardens, and much of that is accidentally spilled.
THE MYTHS DON’T HOLD UP
- “Portland already has rules regarding leaf blowers.”
The existing noise ordinance is unenforced and ineffective at regulating leaf blower use. - “Because gas leaf blowers are powerful they do the job quickly so they don’t pollute much.”
The California Air Resources Board found that one hour of operating the best-selling commercial gas leaf blower emitted smog-forming pollution comparable to driving a 2016 Toyota Camry about 1,100 miles. In 2020, leaf blowers and other small engines overtook automobiles as the number one source of air pollution in California. - “It’s no one’s business what I do on my private property.”
If you live in a city, your property is surrounded by other properties. More and more people work from home. Children and retired people eat, sleep, play and relax in their homes. They are all impacted by the noise and pollution generated by leaf blowers. Studies show that one gas-powered leaf blower can create unsafe levels of noise for a distance of up to 800 feet. - “Courteous behavior on the part of lawn maintenance companies is the best solution.”
Courteous behavior is always appreciated but the fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants remain airborne even when work is paused temporarily. - “Any prohibition on the use of gas leaf blowers will put people out of work.”
There is no evidence for this statement. Prohibitions have been enacted in more than 100 cities across the country over the past 30 years, and landscaping companies have adapted. There are few if any stories of contractors that have gone out of business as a direct result. - “Electric blowers are not powerful enough to do the job.”
This has been proven to be untrue and in fact many large commercial landscaping companies have already made the switch to electric blowers for all their work, producing no toxic emissions and much less noise. You can find gas-free maintenance companies in the Portland area here.
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Gas-powered v. Battery-powered Leaf Blowers (pdf)