Gas-powered leaf blowers are a health hazard

By Sofia Hiltner

I read the following in a safety manual for a “backpack blower,” seen and heard from morning to night across town these days during one of Princeton’s allowable periods for gas-powered leaf blowers (GLBs):

“As the engine is running, this product generates toxic exhaust fumes containing chemicals, such as unburned hydrocarbons (including benzene) and carbon monoxide, that are known to cause respiratory problems, cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.”

“Noise may damage your hearing…regular users should have their hearing checked regularly.”
“prolonged use of the power tool…may produce white finger disease (Raynaud’s phenomenon) or carpal tunnel syndrome.”

In other words, GLBs produce air and noise pollution that harm health and hearing, especially of users — often landscaping crews, who have also historically been targets of wage theft. GLB engines release carcinogens, and their gusts send dust, pollen, and pesticides into the air. The high-decibel, low-frequency noise travels far and penetrates buildings, which is why they can be heard hundreds of feet away on the street, in our homes, and even in ideally tranquil spaces like Herrontown Woods and Mountain Lakes.

The harms of GLBs are clear, so much so that Mount Sinai and the Respiratory Health Association have called them health hazards. Yet the alternatives are easy — from electric leaf blowers, rakes, and mowing leaves into the lawn, to leaving leaves where they are or transforming lawns into something else, precluding the need to move leaves in the first place.

Further, states, counties, and municipalities across the country have banned GLB sale and use for years. California banned their sale in 2021, and Washington, D.C., banned their use in 2018. In New Jersey, Montclair and Maplewood banned GLBs in 2023.

Given the harms, easy alternatives, and successful bans in other towns, why are GLBs still around Princeton? In 2021, our council — supported by citizen group Quiet Princeton — passed Ordinance 2021-32 to partially ban their use between May 16 and Sept. 30 and Dec. 16 and March 14 (and holidays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays). Four years later, we now know two things: (1) the community gets along perfectly fine during GLB-free months, and (2) GLB air and noise pollution continue, with users particularly vulnerable.

We can easily fix this. Residents and crews can stop using GLBs today. Residents can call for a full-year ban either virtually or in person at council meetings on select Mondays at 7 p.m., or by emailing our councilmembers: Mayor Freda, Cohen, Fraga, McDonald, Newlin, Pirone Lambros and Sacks. At the state level, Sen. Bob Smith of District 17 introduced Bill S217 in January 2024 to ban the sale and use of GLBs and provide CBT credits for electric leaf blowers, which was referred that June to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Residents can write District 16 Sen. Zwicker and Assemblymembers Drulis and Freiman to advocate for a state ban as well. If we enact a local ban within a few months, Princeton could be GLB-free in 2026.