The negative impacts of leaf blowers
The noise of gas-powered leaf blowers is louder than is healthy for humans.
Understanding Decibel Levels (dB)
One important factor to consider when using a leaf blower is the noise level it generates, typically measured in decibels (Db). Before discussing the noise level of leaf blowers, it’s essential to understand what decibels (dB) are and how they measure sound. The decibel is a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that a small increase in dB represents a significant increase in the intensity of the sound. For example, a sound at 60 dB is ten times more intense than a sound at 50 dB. In the context of leaf blowers, the dB level is an indicator of how loud the device is.
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 cycle 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 cycle 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, followed by dementia, become 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.
Pollution from Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
It’s tempting to assume the air is safe once a gardener finishes using a 2-cycle 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.
Landscape companies use the two-cycle (2-stroke) backpacks because they are not as heavy and less expensive than the 4 cycle. The 2-cycle engine requires a gas-oil mix and releases far more pollution.
According to the California Air Resources Board, (CARB) just 1 hour use of a typical 2 cycle gas-powered leaf blower can pump out as much smog-forming 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-cycle engines. Roughly 30% of the fuel is released unburned, emitting fine particulate matter (PM2.5) into the air.
These microscopic particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, contributing to asthma, 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 long-term cancer risks. McGill University reports 15,000 premature deaths are annually caused by pollution in Canada.
The risks are highest for those operating the equipment and for anyone nearby—especially children, seniors, or individuals with preexisting conditions.
Because of the serious health and environmental impacts, many cities have begun to act. In Canada, Montreal has banned gas-powered leaf blowers in six boroughs and restricted their use in eight others. In the U.S., California has led the way, banning the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment to promote cleaner alternatives.
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.
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 in- Canada guidelines, 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
Leaf blowers that blast air at 200 miles per hour don’t just kill small animals and insects—they cause widespread environmental harm. Here’s how:
Pollute the air and water in our neighborhoods with harmful emissions and contaminants.
Contribute to smog and climate change by releasing large amounts of CO₂ and other pollutants.
Stir up toxic dust and debris, including pesticides, herbicides, animal waste, tire particles, and heavy metals like lead—particles that can stay airborne for days.
Damage landscapes, stripping away mulch and topsoil, drying out soil, and harming lawns, gardens, trees, and plants.
Destroy habitats, including bird nests and homes of small animals.
Harm or kill wildlife, including birds, beneficial insects, and essential pollinators.
Pollute stormwater systems with fuel spills, emissions, and yard waste, which then flow into creeks, rivers, and lakes—threatening aquatic ecosystems.
