Even a 1 microgram increase of particulate air pollution increases your risk of death from #COVID19, according to a new #Harvard study. Did you know a single commercial gas leaf blower can produce 30 million micrograms every hour? Particulate matter — including mold, fungal spores, insect eggs, fertilizer, heavy metals, and rodent feces — also spread rapidly. The health risks to the public and to our landscape workers warrants an immediate moratorium on the use of gas blowers in Florida.

In addition to spreading harmful particles, the exhaust from gasoline leaf blowers combines with sunlight to produce ground-level ozone that can cause immediate respiratory symptoms and may exacerbate long-term lung disease. Other pollutants caused by gasoline leaf blowers adversely affect health, particularly for the young and elderly. These include known carcinogens like benzene,1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.

We all know the irritating noise pollution made by leaf blowers. Consider that the average blower measures 70-75 dB at 50 feet according to a manufacturer's lobbyist, thus louder at any closer distance. Leaf blowers are routinely used less than 50 feet from unconsenting pedestrians, and neighboring homes and businesses. This noise, akin to a loud motorcycle parade, interferes with communication,sleep, and work. The problem is especially problematic in mixed use neighborhoods where landscapers are in continuous motion to make sure no leaf is misplaced. In peaceful suburban neighborhoods, there is always that guy that spends four hours mowing and blowing on an otherwise peaceful Sunday. The U.S. EPA reports that noise degrades quality of life by impairing communication and social interaction; reducing the accuracy of work, particularly complex tasks, and creating stressful levels of frustration and aggravation that last even when the noise has ceased. This trickle down effect is particularly worry some as more and more people now work from home.

Over 170 cities have already adopted some kind of regulation to control leaf blowers. Please read this DC fact sheet for specific information about the harm of leaf blowers.

https://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/files/leaf_blowers_in_dc_fact_sheet_(05_16).pdf

Also see: https://www.quietcommunities.org/research/

Please see their recent memorandum on COVID and blowers:

https://bit.ly/3b6R7gH   

As lawmakers serving to improve the lives of Florida citizens, please lead the charge to end the health hazard of leaf blowers in our communities.