Alexandria, VA – City leaders are discussing restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers (GLPB). In March, they hosted informational sessions for the public. As recently as April, the city included leaf blowers on a webpage about noise regulations. Regulating the equipment itself offers personal health benefits and a healthier environment.
Some facts:
Air pollution: Gas-powered leaf blowers emit high levels of harmful pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds. These can exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using a leaf blower for an hour produces the same pollution as running 15 cars in our neighborhood for any hour…