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Climate Change at Monmouth

This guide was originally created in conjunction with the Guggenheim Library's Spring 2020 Climate Change exhibit, and will help you locate information, programs and related resources on Climate Change available to the Monmouth University community.

What's the Deal With Leaf Blowers?

Leaf blowers are ubiquitous in many of our neighborhoods, and they're used almost year round. Most people don't particularly like them, but they're typically perceived as a necessary inconvenience. The unfortunate reality is that these blowers do significant damage to our health and to our environment. To combat this, more than 100 municipalities around the U.S. - including here in NJ - have completely or partially banned them.

Here are some of the facts on gas-powered leaf blowers:

Create Noise that is Detrimental to Our Health 
  • Blowers create decibel levels of 80 and above - anything above 70 is considered harmful 
  • They also create low frequency noise that travels for blocks and penetrates walls and buildings, causing increased stress levels
  • Continuous noise exposure itself is detrimental to health, and can cause hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and increased risk of atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots and stroke)
  • Disruptive to sleep patterns, reducing immunity
  • Excessive loud noise stimulates poor food and drink choices

Create Toxic Fumes 
The two stroke engines that power leaf blowers are very inefficient and release significant levels of deadly pollutants:
  • 1,3-butadiene (carcinogen)
  • Benzene (carcinogen)
  • Carbon dioxide (the leading cause of climate change)
  • Fine and secondary inhalable particulates (contribute to pulmonary disease)
  • Formaldehyde (carcinogen)
  • Methane (another leading pollutant causing climate change)
  • Nitrogen oxide (one of the main ingredients in smog)
  • Other volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground level ozone, which in turn leads to smog
     
Pose Substantial Threats to Wildlife
  • Noise from leave blowers is detrimental to species that rely on sound to communicate. If they can't hear each other, they can't perform daily activities that allow them to thrive -- defending themselves against predators, finding food and reproducing.
  • The blowers also disrupt habitats that are critical for pollinating species like bees, butterflies and moths as well as small mammals and amphibians.
     

What can you do?
  • Consider switching to electric powered blowers, which have less hazardous emissions and are significantly quieter. Some municipalities have established subsidies to help small businesses make the switch.
  • Gather fallen leaves the "old-fashioned way" - use a rake! It's healthy outdoor exercise that doesn't cost much.
  • Leave the leaves alone. Add more garden beds and let the leaves fertilize the soil! Join the "no mow" movement and support bird and bee populations, some of which are in drastic decline.
  • Check out materials on wildlife ecology from the Univ. of Delaware's Dr. Doug Tallamy. (Tallamy recently presented at MU's 2024 Climate Teach-In.)

 

Man wearing green reflective suit using leaf blower on a lawn
 

Photo is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Sources & Further Reading

Beida, L., Lambert, F., Despland, E., Tittler, R., & Ziter, C. (2022, June 20). Blowing in the wind: leaf blower disservices for human and
ecosystem health in the city. The Nature of Cities. https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2022/06/20/blowing-in-the-wind-leaf-blower-disservices-for-human-and-ecosystem-health-in-the-city/

Chiu, A. (2023, April 22). The 'no mow' movement could transform our lawns. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/04/22/long-grass-helps-bees/

Chiu, A. (2023, November 5). The problem with gas-powered leaf blowers. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/11/05/leaf-blowers-fall-environment-health/

Costa-Gómez, I., Bañón, D., Moreno-Grau, S., Revuelta, R., Elvira-Rendueles, B., & Moreno, J. (2019). Using a low-cost monitor to assess the impact of leaf blowers on particle pollution during street cleaning. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 13(1), 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00768-8

Dutzik, T., Sokolow, L., Metzger, L., & Schatz, K. (2023). Lawn care goes electric [Pamphlet]. Environment America Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund. https://www.publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lawn_Care_Goes_Electric_Oct23.pdf

Gas powered leaf blower noise and emissions factsheet (Quiet Clean PDX, Comp.) [Pamphlet]. (2019). https://www.quietcleanpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gas-Powered-Leaf-Blower-Emissions-Factsheet-11.12.pdf

Hollow, M. C. (2022, December 28). Why leaf blower bans are on the rise. LeafScore. https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-garden-products/why-leaf-blower-bans-on-the-rise/

Lawson, N. (2023, September 7). Birdsong, interrupted. The Humane Society of the United States. https://www.humanesociety.org/news/birdsong-interrupted#:~:text=or%20escape%20indoors%3F-,For%20wildlife%2C%20the%20consequences%20of%20leaf%20blowing%20are%20devastating%3A%20the,impacts%20of%20the%20noise%20itself

Leaf blowers leave lungs vulnerable (Respiratory Health Association, Comp.) [Pamphlet]. (n.d.). https://resphealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Gas-Powered-Leaf-Blowers-Leave-Lungs-Vulnerable.pdf

Levels of noise in decibels [Pamphlet]. (2010). The American Academy of Audiology. https://audiology-web.s3.amazonaws.com/migrated/NoiseChart_Poster-%208.5x11.pdf_5399b289427535.32730330.pdf

Martin, J. (2023, September 20). The war on gas-powered leaf blowers Is revving up across New Jersey. NJ Monthly. https://njmonthly.com/articles/news/the-war-on-gas-powered-leaf-blowers-is-revving-up-across-new-jersey/

Noise sources and their effects [Chart]. (2000, February). Purdue University Department of Chemistry. https://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/Training/PPETrain/dblevels.htm

Reis, M. (2022, October 25). It's time to ditch gas-powered leaf blowers. Moms Clean Air Force. https://www.momscleanairforce.org/ditch-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/

Renkl, M. (2021, October 25). The first thing we do, let's kill all the leaf blowers. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/25/opinion/leaf-blowers-california-emissions.html

Riva, M. (2023, October 1). What are decibels and how can they affect hearing health? National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/hearing-aids/decibel-levels/

Roberts, C. (2019, March 11). The many health effects of noise. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/hearing-ear-care/health-effects-of-noise

Steele, N. L., Rowland, S., Carter, M., Maldonado, H., & Stover, C. (2000, February). A report to the California legislature on the potential health and environmental impacts of leaf blowers. Air Resources Board, State of California. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/Health%20and%20Environmental%20Impacts%20of%20Leaf%20Blowers.pdf

Wozniacka, G. (2023, October 10). More than 100 cities have banned gas leaf blowers. Will Portland be next? The Oregonian. https://www.oregonlive.com/environment/2023/11/more-than-100-cities-have-banned-gas-leaf-blowers-will-portland-be-next.html#:~:text=BANS%2C%20LAWSUITS&text=And%20countless%20cities%2C%20from%20Burlington,noise%20impacts%2C%20not%20air%20pollution