Ditch the leaf blower and pick up a rake

Ah, autumn! A time for crisp air and contemplative walks. For peace and quiet — or not.

These days my reveries are often abruptly disturbed by the cacophony of a noisy leaf blower. Homeowners, city workers, private contractors are out — all intent on wrangling pesky leaves into a pile. Few of these zealous leaf-herders bother to wear earplugs, or face masks.

According to the Canadian Lung Association, leaf blowers can stir up lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to these heavy metals can cause damage to humans, especially children.

Gas-powered leaf blowers also generate more than 75 decibels of noise even at a distance of 16 metres. Unprotected eardrums are at risk and studies have shown that loud noise causes stress. Human bodies react by increasing adrenalin, elevating heart rates and blood pressure.

Beneficial insects like ladybugs, spiders and ants can be killed.

Finally, according to the California Air Resource Board, the carbon monoxide emitted from a gas-powered leaf blower operating for half an hour is equal to that emitted by an average-sized car over 700 kilometres.

Once upon a time, humanpowered rakes could be heard gently gathering autumn leaves. Let’s restore the rake to its rightful place. Out with the new, in with the old.

Dianne Harke, Edmonton