There is a wealth of information available about the dangers of gas powered leaf blowers and alternative solutions. Multiple organizations nationally support eliminating them. Many cities in the US have already banned their use. Below is a selection of resources that we hope helps to answer any questions you may have.
Our Gas Powered Leaf Blower Noise and Emissions Factsheet is also a useful summary of the data and sources we have collected which documents the dangers of these devices.
NOISE POLLUTION AND HEALTH
ARUP Leaf Blower Noise Testing – Gas Blowers lower frequency noise travels farther
European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise exposure
CDC – How loud noises damage hearing
OSHA – Health Effects of Noise Exposure
Quiet Communities – Gas Blowers Low Frequency Sound Explains Broad Impact
New Yorker – Is Noise Pollution the Next Big Public-Health Crisis?
A short review on noise effects on cognitive performance in children
Noise and the City – The Devils Hair Dryer
Video – Leaf Blower Sound Comparison – Li-ion battery powered vs. gas engine powered
EMISSIONS, AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH
EPA – Report on Gas Powered Lawn Equipment Emissions and Dangers
Oregon DEQ – What You Can Do for Cleaner Air
American Lung Association – State of the Air
World Health Organization – Risks of Air Pollution
European Society of Cardiology – Loss of Life Expectancy from Air Pollution
American Heart Association – Particulates and Cardiovascular Disease
Silent Spring – GLBs linked to increased risk of breast cancer from Huntington CALM
American Cancer Association – Benzene and Cancer Risk
Mt Sinai Childrens Health Center – Medical Grounds for Restricting Gas Leaf Blowers
NY Committee on Environmental Health – Gas Blowers, Health Risks and Alternatives
Sierra Club – The State of the Air Is Worsening as Climate Impacts Multiply
Fair Warning – Noisy but thats not all
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
California Air Resources Board – Small Engine Fact Sheet
AGZA – Toxic Solid Waste from Gas Powered Lawn Equipment
Leaf blowers contributing to ‘insect armageddon’
US Dept Of Energy – Lawn Care Fuel Consumption
Edmunds – Leaf Blowers Emissions Much Dirtier than Pickup Truck
WORKER SAFETY
Professional Landcare Network – Operating Leaf Blowers
Green Industry Pros – Leaf Blower Safety
Safety.com – everything you need to know about leaf blowers
Stihl – Leaf blower safety tips
Atlantic – leaf blower safety tips
HEALTHY LANDSCAPING AND MAINTENANCE
Green Jay – Why Leaf Blowers & Lawn Care Practices are Hazardous to our Health
Testimony – Battery Electric is profitable and powerful enough for landscape contractors
NY Times – How to Rake Leaves on a Windy Day
Xerces Society – Leave the Leaves
SoilsAlive – How leaf blowers destroy soil
Four Tips for a Climate Friendly Yard
EcoBeneficial – Good Reasons to Stop Blowing Leaves
Portland Audubon – Backyard Habitat Certification
Oregon Metro – Healthy Lawn and Garden Pledge
Care 2 – 5 Greener Alternatives to Gas Blowers
Lawnsite – Raking is as fast as Blowing
Total Landscape Care – Equipment matters: The battle for battery
Quartz – The complete guide to the battery revolution
Landscape Management – Battery boon: Breaking down the benefits of battery-powered equipment
Lawn and Landscape – Plugged in
American Green Zone Alliance – Recommended Equipment
NATIONAL ACTION ON LEAF BLOWER REGULATIONS
US Cities with bans or restrictions
Leaf blower regulations by State
ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ELIMINATE GAS BLOWERS
Medical Society of the State of New York
NEWS / ARTICLES
Portland Tribune – Why we should ban Gas Leaf Blowers
Portland Southeast Examiner – Ban Gas Powered Leaf Blowers
The Atlantic – Get Off My Lawn
James Fallows Video – The Problem with Fall in America
The Week – The Government Must Regulate Lawn Equipment
Wall Street Journal – Leaf Blowers are Loud, Ugly and Dangerous