We Need to Protect Our Children from Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Pollution & Noise

Children are especially vulnerable to air pollution and excessive noise.
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Archaic, inefficient gas-powered leaf blowers expose them to unburned gasoline and oil, dangerous fine particulate pollution, airborne dust and extreme noise.
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These exposures can affect a child’s developing lungs, learning and sleep — while excessive noise can cause permanent hearing damage.
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Their widespread, indiscriminate and nearly year-round use has made these exposures a routine part of life in our neighborhoods.
Pollution and excessive noise should not be a normal part of childhood. We can, and must, do better for our children.
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WHY CHILDREN ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE ↓ | REAL-WORLD IMPACT ↓ | GET INVOLVED ↓

Why Children are Especially Vulnerable to Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

Developing Lungs and Bodies

Childhood is a critical period of growth and development.
The lungs, brain, immune system and other organs are still developing, making children more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.
Exposure during these critical stages can disrupt development and contribute to health effects that can extend into adulthood.
That makes unnecessary exposure to gas-powered leaf blower exhaust and particulate pollution especially concerning during childhood.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Why Children’s Environmental Health Matters →

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Why Children Are More Vulnerable →

Noise Disturbs Learning and Sleep

Excessive noise can do more than disrupt a child’s concentration.
Loud or repeated noise exposure can damage hearing, and that damage can be permanent.
Environmental noise can also interfere with learning, communication and sleep — all especially important during childhood development.
Gas-powered leaf blowers add an intense, avoidable source of noise to children’s environments.

American Academy of Pediatrics

Noise Exposure →

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss →

Pollution Persists

A child does not have to be standing next to an operating gas-powered leaf blower to be exposed.
Gas-powered leaf blowers propel fine particles and dust into the air, where they can remain airborne after the blower has moved on and travel beyond the immediate area.
Exposure can therefore continue even after the leaf blower has moved on.

California Air Resources Board

Health & Environmental Impacts of Leaf Blowers →

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

What Is Particle Pollution? →

Kids Breathe More When They Play

Running, playing and sports mean children breathe faster and take in more air.
Children also breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults.
When the air contains pollution or fine particles, that combination of activity and faster breathing can increase the amount of pollution they inhale.
When gas-powered leaf blowers are operating nearby, children at play can breathe in more of the airborne pollution and particles around them.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Children & Particle Pollution →

American Academy of Pediatrics

Outdoor Air Pollutants →

The Real-World Impact on Children from Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

Hear from a Daycare Center

“Earlier this year, I spoke with a daycare center in East Northport who told me that when their landscapers show up, the kids are waking up, they’re crying and they’re running around covering their ears, saying that they can’t wait for the noise to stop.”

Kevin Boodram
Owner, Serenity Robotic Lawn Care
Huntington Town Board Hearing • September 2026

Watch Kevin's Speech at Huntington Town Council Meeting - 3 minute watch

“ I started Serenity because I couldn’t concentrate in school because of the noise. ”
Kevin Boodram
Owner, Serenity Robotic Lawn Care

Children Deserve Better

“ There are going to be some grown men and women who get up here tonight and argue that their right to play with gas leaf blowers in the summertime is more important than the right of literal children to sleep, than the right of students to study, than the right of adults to work from home. ”
Kevin Boodram
Owner, Serenity Robotic Lawn Care
Huntington Town Board Hearing • September 2026