SHARON PARHAM
Have you woken up to the loud drone of leaf blowers in your neighborâs yard? In addition to the incessant noise, leaf blowers create air pollution, can exacerbate diseases such as asthma, and contribute to the worsening of COVID-19 symptoms.
And to make matters worse, they also create greenhouse gas emissions. Here in Napa, and across the country, citizens are weighing in, looking for alternatives.
Noise pollution
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The first objection most people have to gas-powered leaf blowers is the noise. The average noise level is 80-85 decibels, which can cause permanent and irreversible hearing damage after two hours of exposure. Some models are above 100 decibels at the operatorâs ear.