Congratulations to the District of Columbia for passing legislation to permanently phase out gas-powered leaf blowers. It’s so refreshing to see a community caring about the health and welfare of its residents and those work in the District.
We hope that this may inspire and encourage all of us to continue to persevere.
Check out the District’s Facts, Myths, FAQS page.
Introduction: The City Council of the District of Columbia is considering legislation that would phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers because of their excessive noisiness. The bill would limit their sale after December, 2021. Gas-powered leaf blowers sold in DC would need to be labeled as not allowed to be used in the District. Battery-powered and electric leaf blowers would be allowed. Enforcement of the ban would be the responsibility of the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. This legislation would follow models applied in some 170 cities across the country.
FACTS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW:
1. Fact: Gas-powered leaf blowers are noisier than battery-powered blowers, even when their labeled noise levels are the same.
a. Gas blowers have a unique and loud low frequency noise that makes them sound much louder than battery-powered blowers, . [Pollock2; Fallows2,p. 2; S2 (Video)]
b. Even gas blowers that are rated by the industry as emitting the same 65 decibels as battery blowers are significantly noisier. [Transcript (Pollock) p. 16; Pollock2, p.8-9 Small p.2]
2. Fact: Gas-powered leaf blowers have a much larger impact on the neighborhood
a. The low frequency noise from gas blowers travels much longer distances and penetrates windows more easily and therefore affects significantly larger numbers of neighbors in urban settings. [Banks2, p. 5; Transcript (Pollock) p. 15; Pollock2, p. 8 ; Transcript (Sainburg) p. 5]
b. Not only neighbors, but customers and operators as well appreciate the major reduction in the noise. [Transcript (Sainburg) p. 5-9]
3. Fact: Noise can lead to permanent hearing loss
a. Many gas leaf blowers impact the operator’s ears at 100 decibels or more. [Transcript (Johnson) p. 14; Transcript (Banks) p. 19; Banks2, p. 4]
b. 91 decibels for 2 hours or 100 decibels for only 15 minutes a day can result in permanent hearing loss according to the CDC.
c. Even exposure to an average of 75 decibels over a lifetime can result in permanent hearing loss. [Fink, p. 2]
4. Fact: Noise can lead to a wide variety of additional serious effects on humans and wildlife
a. Adverse effects from noise include cardiovascular impacts, and effects on the immune system and on development. [Fink, p. 12; Banks, p. 2, 10 ; Elkins2, p. 3; Fallows2, p. 7]
b. Low frequency noise such as emitted by gas blowers is such a special health concern that additional protection is warranted, especially for children, the elderly, and other sensitive populations. [Banks2, p. 4]
c. Workers frequently walk into the path of approaching traffic since they cannot hear the traffic because of the noise. [Transcript (Small) p. 26]
d. Loud noise interferes with habitats and life cycles of birds and animals. [Transcript (Cottingham), p. 7]