leaf blower
{{Short description|Machine used to blow leaves and debris}}
A leaf blower, commonly known as a blower, is a device that propels air out of a nozzle to move debris such as leaves and grass cuttings. Leaf blowers are powered by electric or gasoline motors. Gasoline models have traditionally been two-stroke engines, but four-stroke engines were recently introduced to partially address air pollution concerns. Leaf blowers are typically self-contained handheld units, or backpack mounted units with a handheld wand. The latter is more ergonomic for prolonged use. Larger units may rest on wheels and even use a motor for propulsion.{{cite web|title=Leaf blowers|url=http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/leaf-blowers.htm|publisher=Consumer Reports|access-date=29 May 2014}} These are sometimes called "walk-behind leaf blowers" because they must be pushed by hand to be operated. Some units called blower vacs, can also suck in leaves and small twigs via a vacuum, and shred them into a bag.
Leaf blowers are a source of controversy due to their adverse impacts such as operator injury, including hearing loss, particulates air pollution, noise pollution, and ecological habitat destruction.{{cite web|title=Leaf blowers are not only annoying but also bad for you (and the environment)|date=15 November 2019 |url=https://www.zmescience.com/science/leaf-blowers-health-noise-hazards/|access-date= 18 Feb 2022}} Over 200 localities have restricted the use of leaf blowers and many major cities, including Washington, DC,{{cite web|title=Leaf Blower Regulations|url=https://dcra.dc.gov/leafblower#:~:text=On%20January%201%2C%202022%2C%20the,own%20gasoline%2Dpowered%20leaf%20blowers.|access-date=18 Feb 2022}} are implementing total bans due to the negative effects to operator health, ecological destruction, pollution, and nuisances including noise.{{cite web|title=City Council sets April 2023 date for phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers|date=12 November 2021 |url=https://evanstonroundtable.com/2021/11/11/gas-powered-leaf-blower-ban-evanston-ordinance/|access-date=18 Feb 2022}} October 9, 2021, California passed an air pollution control law AB1346 phasing out small off-road engines, like those found in leaf blowers, set to take effect January 1, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-09 |title=California regulators sign off on phaseout of new gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-09/california-regulators-phaseout-new-gas-powered-lawnmowers-and-leaf-blowers |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
Environmental and occupational impact
File: NoiseLevel LeafBlower.jpg]
Emissions from gasoline-powered grounds-keeping equipment in general are a source of air pollution{{cite web|title=Determination Particulate Emission Rates from Leaf Blowers|url=https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/conference/ei15/session5/fitz.pdf|access-date= 18 Feb 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/air/community/details/yardequip.html |title=Lawn Equipment | Improving Air Quality in Your Community | US EPA |publisher=Epa.gov |date=2006-06-28 |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428102707/http://www.epa.gov/air/community/details/yardequip.html |archive-date=2009-04-28 }} and more immediately, noise pollution.{{Cite news|date=2017|title=Do noisy leaf blowers drive you crazy? You're not alone|work=Miami Herald|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article152515714.html}}{{Cite web|last=Frost|first=Natasha|title=More and more brave towns are putting a stop to the tyranny of leaf blowers|url=https://qz.com/1729584/more-brave-towns-are-putting-a-stop-to-the-tyranny-of-leaf-blowers/|access-date=2021-10-25|website=Quartz|date=17 October 2019 |language=en}} In the United States, US emission standards prescribe maximum emissions from small engines. The two-stroke engines used in most leaf blowers operate by mixing gasoline with oil, and a third of this mixture is not burned, but is emitted as an aerosol exhaust. These pollutants have been linked to cancer, heart disease, and asthma.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/leaf-blowers-are-loud-ugly-and-dangerous-1539903772|title=Leaf Blowers Are Loud, Ugly and Dangerous|last=Bernhard|first=Adrienne|date=October 18, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=October 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021044746/https://www.wsj.com/articles/leaf-blowers-are-loud-ugly-and-dangerous-1539903772|archive-date=October 21, 2018|url-status=live}} A 2011 study found that the amount of NMHC pollutants emitted by a leaf blower operated for 30 minutes is comparable to the amount emitted by a Ford F-150 pickup truck driving from Texas to Alaska.{{Cite news|url=https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/emissions-test-car-vs-truck-vs-leaf-blower.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831065352/https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/emissions-test-car-vs-truck-vs-leaf-blower.html|archive-date=August 31, 2017|title=Emissions Test: Car vs. Truck vs. Leaf Blower|last=Kavanagh|first=Jason|date=December 5, 2011|work=Edmunds|access-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live}}
In addition to the adverse health effects of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates generated in the exhaust gas of the gasoline-powered engines, leaf blowers pose problems related to the dust raised by the powerful flow of air. Dust clouds caused by leaf blowers contain potentially harmful substances such as pesticides, mold, and animal fecal matter that may cause irritation, allergies, and disease.{{Cite web|title=Leaf Blowers - |url=https://reviewgates.net/best-commercial-backpack-leaf-blowers/|access-date=2021-12-07|website=reviewgates.net}}
Noise pollution is also a concern with leaf blowers, as they can emit noise levels above those required to cause hearing loss to both the operator and those nearby.{{Cite web |last=Micu |first=Alexandru |date=2019-11-15 |title=Leaf blowers are not only annoying but also bad for you (and the environment) |url=https://www.zmescience.com/science/leaf-blowers-health-noise-hazards/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=ZME Science |language=en-US}}
Leaf blowers also present an occupational hearing hazard to the nearly 1 million people who work in lawn service and ground-keeping.{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2018/07/25/landscape-noise1/|title=Grounds for Change: Reducing Noise Exposure in Grounds Management Professionals|last=NIOSH|date=Jul 25, 2018|access-date=Aug 15, 2018}} A recent study assessed the occupational noise exposure among groundskeepers at several North Carolina public universities and found noise levels from leaf blowers averaging 89 decibels (A-weighted) and maximum sound pressure levels reaching 106 dB(A), both far exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit of 85 dB(A){{Cite journal|last1=Balanay|first1=Jo Anne G.|last2=Kearney|first2=Gregory D.|last3=Mannarino|first3=Adam J.|date=2016-06-13|title=Assessment of Occupational Noise Exposure among Groundskeepers in North Carolina Public Universities|journal=Environmental Health Insights|volume=10|pages=83–92|doi=10.4137/EHI.S39682|issn=1178-6302|pmc=4909058|pmid=27330303|bibcode=2016EnvHI..10S9682B }}
Leaves are ecologically beneficial, providing habitat for insects and microorganisms and nutrients for the soil. Leaving some leaves rather than removing them all can support biodiversity.
Battery-powered leaf blowers produce zero emissions, are more efficient, and are even rechargeable, making them an increasingly reliable alternative to gas power.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-07 |title=5 Green Reasons to Choose Battery-Powered Lawn Tools |url=https://www.consumerreports.org/home-garden/reasons-to-choose-battery-powered-lawn-tools-a1182121491/ |access-date=2023-06-17 |website=Consumer Reports |language=en-US}}
= Bans =
Soon after the leaf blower was introduced into the U.S., its use was banned in two California cities, Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1975 and Beverly Hills in 1978, as a noise nuisance. There are currently twenty California cities that have banned leaf blowers, sometimes only within residential neighborhoods and usually targeting gasoline-powered equipment. Another 80 cities have ordinances on the books restricting either usage or noise level or both.[http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/september/home-garden/leaf-blower/blower-noise/index.htm Leaf-blower regulations nationwide] Consumer Reports magazine, September 2010.
Washington, DC, passed a ban on gas-power leaf blowers in 2018.{{Cite web |title=D.C. Council Strikes Death Blow To Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers |url=https://dcist.com/story/18/12/04/d-c-council-strikes-death-blow-to-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205140918/https://dcist.com/story/18/12/04/d-c-council-strikes-death-blow-to-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/ |url-status=live |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=DCist |language=en}} A law banning the sale of gas-powered lawn equipment in California will take effect in 2024.{{Cite news |title=How to deal with your leaves |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2022/10/05/how-to-blow-leaves/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite news |title=California set to become first state to ban gasoline-powered lawn equipment |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/10/12/california-newsom-law-equipment-pollution/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |issn=0190-8286}} Cambridge, MA banned them in 2025.{{cite report |title=Cambridge, Massachusetts Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers |last=Bennett |first=Paige |work=EcoWatch |location=Chatham |date=March 17, 2025 |id={{ProQuest|3177914470}} }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | title=On Banning Leaf Blowers | website=The New York Times | date=2017-03-17 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/realestate/on-banning-on-leaf-blowers.html | ref={{sfnref | The New York Times | 2017}} | access-date=2018-05-28}}
- {{cite web | title=Modern Pestilence: Leaf Blowers Generate Infuriating Noise, Toxic Gases and Hazardous Dust|quote=Blasting out air at hurricane-force speeds, leaf blowers spread allergens, toxins, pollutants and pathogens into the air we breathe|author=Cliff Weathers |year=2014|website=Alternet | url=https://www.alternet.org/modern-pestilence-leaf-blowers-generate-infuriating-noise-toxic-gases-and-hazardous-dust | ref={{sfnref | Alternet}} | access-date=2018-05-28}}
{{commons category|Leaf blowers}}
{{Home appliances}}
{{Garden tools}}