Gas powered lawn and garden equipment account for a significant portion of off-road carbon emissions and pollute our air with harmful particulate matter and VOCs, as well as stirring up dust, pollen, mold, and other respiratory irritants.
The California Air Resources Board reports that pollution from gas-powered gardening equipment will exceed that from all the passenger cars in the state by the year 2020.
Many municipalities are now recognizing the risks of gas powered landscaping equipment to the environment, residents and workers and are switching over to more sustainable, lower and even no-emissions options.
The California Air Resources Board reports that pollution from gas-powered gardening equipment will exceed that from all the passenger cars in the state by the year 2020.
Many municipalities are now recognizing the risks of gas powered landscaping equipment to the environment, residents and workers and are switching over to more sustainable, lower and even no-emissions options.
Landscape maintenance machines (mowers, leaf blowers) operate at levels up to 110 decibels – these levels far exceed the safe levels established by the World Health Organization, US Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for the prevention of hearing loss and other adverse health effects.
Gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment account for a significant portion of U.S. non road gasoline emissions that contribute to the acceleration of climate change. The two stroke engine of a GLB has no emission control. In a two stroke engine the fuel has to be mixed with oil because it lacks an independent lubrication system. About 30 percent of the fuel the engine uses fails to undergo complete combustion. As a result the engine emits numerous air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons. These pollutants escape from the engine in large quantities.
Most of us are quite familiar with the acute effects of carbon monoxide, but the other gases are no less worrisome. Nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons both contribute to smog formation. Hydrocarbons are carcinogenic, and nitrous oxides cause acid rain. These engines also emit benzene, toluene, 1-3 butadiene, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. At least two of these are known carcinogens.
According to tests conducted by Edmunds’ InsideLine.com, a consumer-grade leaf blower emits more pollutants than a 6,200-pound 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor at edmunds.com has stated, “The hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska in a Raptor. As ridiculous as it may sound, it is more ‘green’ to ditch your yard equipment and find a way to blow leaves using a Raptor.”
Gas leaf blowers kick up dust, pollen, heavy metals like lead, fecal matter, and pesticides which all get launched into the air where they can linger for hours or even longer. The US EPA says; “Particulate matter (PM), also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.”
According to research from NYU Langone Medical Center in 2016, the annual economic cost of the nearly 16,000 premature births linked to air pollution in the United States has reached $4.33 billion. The number of premature births in the U.S. surpasses the rates in other developed nations.
Even small amounts of particulate matter, below the levels set as safe by the EPA are shown to increase risk of intrauterine inflammation in pregnant women. This condition is linked to many negative health outcomes for their children, like neurodevelopmental disorders and asthma. These disorders last a lifetime.
Electric and solar powered landscaping equipment are a better choice for municipalities and commercial landscapers. They improve air quality and worker health and safety by eliminating hazardous noise levels and emissions created by internal combustion engines.
Gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment account for a significant portion of U.S. non road gasoline emissions that contribute to the acceleration of climate change. The two stroke engine of a GLB has no emission control. In a two stroke engine the fuel has to be mixed with oil because it lacks an independent lubrication system. About 30 percent of the fuel the engine uses fails to undergo complete combustion. As a result the engine emits numerous air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons. These pollutants escape from the engine in large quantities.
Most of us are quite familiar with the acute effects of carbon monoxide, but the other gases are no less worrisome. Nitrous oxides and hydrocarbons both contribute to smog formation. Hydrocarbons are carcinogenic, and nitrous oxides cause acid rain. These engines also emit benzene, toluene, 1-3 butadiene, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. At least two of these are known carcinogens.
According to tests conducted by Edmunds’ InsideLine.com, a consumer-grade leaf blower emits more pollutants than a 6,200-pound 2011 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor at edmunds.com has stated, “The hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are about the same as a 3,900-mile drive from Texas to Alaska in a Raptor. As ridiculous as it may sound, it is more ‘green’ to ditch your yard equipment and find a way to blow leaves using a Raptor.”
Gas leaf blowers kick up dust, pollen, heavy metals like lead, fecal matter, and pesticides which all get launched into the air where they can linger for hours or even longer. The US EPA says; “Particulate matter (PM), also known as particle pollution, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets that get into the air. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.”
According to research from NYU Langone Medical Center in 2016, the annual economic cost of the nearly 16,000 premature births linked to air pollution in the United States has reached $4.33 billion. The number of premature births in the U.S. surpasses the rates in other developed nations.
Even small amounts of particulate matter, below the levels set as safe by the EPA are shown to increase risk of intrauterine inflammation in pregnant women. This condition is linked to many negative health outcomes for their children, like neurodevelopmental disorders and asthma. These disorders last a lifetime.
Electric and solar powered landscaping equipment are a better choice for municipalities and commercial landscapers. They improve air quality and worker health and safety by eliminating hazardous noise levels and emissions created by internal combustion engines.
Learn more about gas-powered alternatives from the following resources.
American Green Zone Alliance AGZA
AGZA is a member-based organization that provides certification and accreditation in zero-emission landscape maintenance strategies. They educate individuals, property owners, and landscape maintenance professionals to reduce or eliminate the use of gasoline powered maintenance equipment in favor of cordless electric and manual equipment.
Quiet Communities
Quiet Communities provides research, education, outreach, and solutions to transition landscape maintenance to low noise, zero emissions practices with positive solutions to protect the health of workers, children, the public and the environment.
Huntington CALM
Huntington CALM, established in 2013, work with civic, governmental, scientific, educational, and commercial organizations nationwide to build alliances for sustainable practices. They have been working with elected officials, public health and environmental experts, community representatives, manufacturers, and landscapers to foster a transition to cleaner, quieter, more sustainable practices.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
LEAF BLOWER BANS & ALTERNATIVES
Get Off My Lawn - How a small group of activists got leaf blowers banned in the nation’s capital
List of towns that have banned or restricted leaf blowers
Rake Harvard
Report of the Sustainability, Municipal Services, and Climate Resilience Committees On Gas Leaf Blowers, Leaf Vacuuming, and Leaf Mulching in the Village of Scarsdale
Blowback - the great suburban leaf war
List of towns that have banned or restricted leaf blowers
Rake Harvard
Report of the Sustainability, Municipal Services, and Climate Resilience Committees On Gas Leaf Blowers, Leaf Vacuuming, and Leaf Mulching in the Village of Scarsdale
Blowback - the great suburban leaf war
HEALTH HARMS
Adding Up the Evidence on Air Pollution’s Harms to Children
Leaf blowers and health summary report
Health hazards of leaf blowers
Air pollution may be a leading global cause of death
In 1999 Orange County, CA recommended that school districts and others stop using gas leaf blowers. This report provides good documentation of the health risks. A report to the California legislature on the potential health and environmental impacts of leaf blowers
Modern pestilence: leaf blowers generate infuriating noise, toxic gases and hazardous dust
Leaf blowers are not only annoying but also bad for you (and the environment)
Noise Free America - lawn and garden equipment
Leaf blowers and health summary report
Health hazards of leaf blowers
Air pollution may be a leading global cause of death
In 1999 Orange County, CA recommended that school districts and others stop using gas leaf blowers. This report provides good documentation of the health risks. A report to the California legislature on the potential health and environmental impacts of leaf blowers
Modern pestilence: leaf blowers generate infuriating noise, toxic gases and hazardous dust
Leaf blowers are not only annoying but also bad for you (and the environment)
Noise Free America - lawn and garden equipment
