The negative impacts of leaf blowers
The noise is louder than is healthy for humans.
Understanding Decibel Levels (dB)
One important factor to consider with leaf blowers is their noise output, which is measured in decibels (dB). Before discussing how loud a blower is, it helps to understand what decibels represent. The decibel is a unit used to measure sound intensity, and the scale is logarithmic—meaning even a small increase in dB reflects a large jump in actual sound energy. For example, a sound at 60 dB is twice as loud as 50 dB.
1- Noise from Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
The World Health Organization affirms excessive noise can cause annoyance; in addition research shows it increases the risk for Ischemic Heart Disease and hypertension, sleep disturbance, hearing impairment, tinnitus and cognitive impairment, with increasing evidence for other health impacts such as adverse birth outcomes and mental health problems. The harmful sound emanating from a conventional 2 stroke gas-powered leaf blowers is damaging to anyone in the surrounding community as well as the environment. If something sounds loud, it’s too loud and one’s auditory health is at risk
No More Noise Toronto report studies have shown, unwanted, harmful noise is the #2 urban environmental health hazard affecting our sleep, our bodies and our minds. Besides causing auditory damage, loud sound has been proven to increase behavioral problems in children, cognitive decline, reduce achievement and productivity.
The loud, excessive, high-decibel noise generated by a 2 stroke gas-powered leaf blower has broader implications for the health of residents at home, walking by, distressing pets, and disrupting the concentration of kid’s learning. The health of thousands of Canadians is at risk, with children, whose auditory systems are still developing, among the most vulnerable.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers among the sources of loud noise that can damage hearing over time. Permanent noise-induced hearing loss can occur with just 15 minutes of exposure at the high decibel run level that most gas-powered leaf blowers operate. Short, impulsive, and long-term exposure to noise pollution has links to a host of health impacts, including diabetes, increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, metabolic disturbances, and exacerbation of psychological disorders.
These machines not only expose the gardeners to harmful emissions but also cause noise pollution that can lead to their hearing loss, when proper ear protection isn't used. The health risk to gardeners using backpack gas leaf blowers is often overlooked. It’s truly concerning how workers, without proper protection, are exposed to significant health consequences generated by these machines.
Prolonged exposure to loud noise that can reach 90 decibels or more can result in auditory damage, ultimately reaching a point where permanent hearing loss becomes a possibility. The leaf blower operators, their ears besieged by the relentless roar of deafening noise levels, are almost assured of developing hearing issues such as Tinnitus, for which there is no known cure. It’s important to raise awareness about the risks and advocate for safer alternatives, such as electric or battery -powered leaf blowers, which are quieter and produce fewer emissions.
2- Pollution from Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Leaf blowers pollute on a larger scale than one might expect for their size. It’s tempting to assume the air is safe once a gardener finishes using a 2-stroke leaf blower—but research shows otherwise. Scientists warn that these machines emit high levels of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases, with serious consequences for both human health and the environment.
The 2-stroke blower that powers most leaf blowers uses an antiquated technology that has been phased out in nearly all areas-except yard work. The technology relies on a combustible mix of gas and oil,burning just 60% of its fuel, the rest is pollution spewed into the atmosphere.
According to the California Air Resources Board, (CARB) just 1 hour use of a typical 2 stroke gas-powered leaf blower emits the same amount of air pollution as driving a car from Toronto to Halifax—a staggering comparison.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains that the problem lies in the inefficient combustion of 2-stroke engines. Roughly 30% of the fuel is released unburned, emitting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) into the air.
These ultrafine particles enter the body through the lungs but translocate to essential organs and enter the bloodstream, causing pulmonary inflammation, inducing cough and worsening asthma… and even heart disease. On top of that, the exhaust contains a mix of known carcinogens, including nitrogen oxides, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide—all posing cancer risks.
The risks are highest for those operating the equipment and for anyone nearby—especially children, seniors, or individuals with preexisting conditions. McGill University reports 15,000 premature deaths are annually caused by pollution in Canada.
Because of the serious health and environmental impacts over 200 cities in the U.S.A. have a ban or a restriction. The State of California bans the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment. Montreal has banned gas-powered leaf blowers in six boroughs and restricted their use in eight others.
As communities continue to grapple with air quality and climate change, rethinking the use of gas-powered landscaping tools is an important step toward healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
Grams per hour comparison from a car and gas powered leaf blower.
Pollutants Car Emissions 2 Stroke Leaf Blower Emissions
Unburned Hydrocarbons (HC) 0.39 199.3
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 15.97 423.5
Particulates Matter PM) 0.13 6.43
Fugitive Dust from Blowing Debris N/A 48.6 to 1,031 (depending on surface)
(California Environmental Protection Agency)
Here’s a professional opinion.
Greg Evans, a professor in the department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto, an expert in the study of pollution, describes the environmental and health impacts of one gas-powered leaf blower and his concern about the exhaust fumes the worker breathes:
“Two stroke (cycle) engines are known to be high emitters of numerous air pollutants. One such pollutant is ultrafine particles, which are particles less than 100 nm in diameter. We measured the concentrations of these ultrafine particles at different distances from a single leaf blower that was operated at different powers.
The ultrafine particle concentrations generated by one specific leaf blower we tested exceeded a million particles per cubic centimeter; someone breathing this very polluted air would inhale over a billion of these particles with every breath.
Ultrafine particles are a strong indicator of emissions from combustion processes such as those that occur in the combustion engines of vehicles and planes. Though there are no ambient air quality guidelines for ultrafine particle exposure in Canada, however the World Health Organisation has proposed a one-hour high particle number ambient air quality guidelines for ultrafine particle exposure concentration “good practice” criterion of 20,000 particle/cm3;
The concentration that we measured for this specific 2 cycle gas leaf blower was 50 times higher than this World Health Organisation criterion.”
Greg J. Evans, Ph.D., P.Eng., Director, Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP); Director, Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research
3- Blasting leaf blower air at 200 miles per hour causes widespread environmental harm.
• Shredding habitat: The force of the blast strips away leaf litter that insects, pollinators, and amphibians rely on for shelter, moisture, and overwintering.
• Destroying soil structure: High-velocity air compacts and erodes soil, reducing its ability to absorb water and support healthy plant life.
• Spreading pollutants: Gas-powered models spew fine particulate matter, unburned fuel, and toxic exhaust directly into the air we breathe.
• Disrupting ecosystems: Removing organic debris deprives birds and small mammals of food sources and exposes roots, seedlings, and microbes to damaging temperature swings.
• Accelerating carbon loss: Blowing away leaves—nature’s mulch—means more organic material goes to landfill instead of decomposing and enriching soil with carbon.
• Fueling noise pollution: The piercing soundscape disrupts urban wildlife communication, migration patterns, and breeding cycles.
