Gas leaf blowers harm the climate and people, too

Gas-powered leaf blowers -- and other yard care tools -- are tech dinosaurs. While diesel buses and dirty boilers were outlawed in New York City long ago, these "mobile pollution units" burn as much gas in a half-hour as a fuel-efficient car driving 1,000 miles. A quarter of gas leaf blower fuel is discharged into the air, along with harmful chemicals and particulates. Their 100 mph blasts stir up dangerous clouds of dust, heavy metals, animal waste, mold and pollen.

Locally, many immigrant Latino workers fill entry-level, yard work jobs and are subjected to intense air and noise pollution.  Generally, they don't use protective gear. As is well-documented, noise and air pollution harm the whole body - lungs, heart, brain, immune system and ears. While workers in many industries are entitled to safe working conditions by regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, those standards don't seem to apply here.

Our dedicated public officials -- Congressman Torres, Assemblyman Dinowitz, Senator Rivera and Councilman Dinowitz -- are aware of the importance of protecting our health and environment. I call on them to build upon previous legislative efforts and to make use of the millions of dollars allocated for improving our environment. Please act now. Encourage and subsidize local landscaping companies to replace their outdated equipment, with state-of-the-art electric, battery-powered tools, and ensure they receive proper training for their use. You will be enhancing the health of our overlooked workers and protecting all of us from needless exposure to dangerous pollution and future climate change consequences. 

Alisa Eilenberg