Noise
Gas leaf blowers create high-intensity, low-frequency noise that impacts nearby homes, schools, parks, pedestrians — essentially, anyone within earshot.
Operating a gas leaf blower can cause permanent hearing loss in as little as two hours and can impact people in up to 90 nearby homes.
The low-frequency noise of gas blowers travels further than the noise from electric blowers and penetrates through walls. These machines have much greater noise impact than electric leaf blowers.
Pollution
Backpack gas leaf blowers have two-cycle engines, which produce hundreds of times more hazardous pollutants and fine particulates than automobiles. In California, small engines such as those in leaf blowers overtook automobiles in 2020 to become the number one source of air pollution.
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Health
Gas leaf blowers emit high levels of formaldehyde, benzene, fine particulate matter, and smog-forming chemicals. They also kick up clouds of debris that can include pollen, fertilizers, pesticides, fecal matter, and other particulate materials that can have health impacts on those who inhale them.
Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to:
- premature death in people with heart or lung disease
- nonfatal heart attacks
- irregular heartbeat
- aggravated asthma
- decreased lung function
- increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing.
People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, minority populations, and low socioeconomic status populations are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure, either because they are more sensitive or [because they] may have higher exposures.
From the US Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics
Operators of the equipment, who are often members of low-income groups or people of color, cannot automatically protect themselves from the toxins and deafening noises they endure because of limited regulations for these devices and almost no enforcement.
The exhaust and dust are dangerous for everyone — especially children, the elderly, and people with chronic asthma or other respiratory or cardiopulmonary problems. Gas leaf blowers are often used in parks and other public spaces where many people can be exposed to these dangers.