25 signatures reached
To: Clyde Roberson, Mayor
Ban Leaf Blowers in Monterey!
The noise and chemical pollution from leaf blowers hurts humans, pets, and the local fauna. From the World Health Organization to the Air Resources Board and local government, and a grand jury, have all clearly stated they should be banned. Help our community regain health, strengthen our ecosystem, and give night workers and home workers the ability to work and rest safely.
This is why leaf blowers should be banned:
NOISE POLLUTION
1. They make noise at 100 times human tolerance level that is amplified by surrounding buildings.
2. Constant motor noise is linked to hearing loss, deafness, heart palpitations, strokes and serious disturbance of brain functions.
3. Leaf blowers threaten living spaces. Those of us who are home workers, day sleepers (because we work at night) or ill can't work, sleep or convalesce. Blower not only assault our health, they hinder our ability to earn a living;
4. The sounds generated by a leaf blower cause severe suffering to domestic pets and local fauna whose hearing is so much more sensitive than a human’s.
5. In Orange County, Calif., a grand jury even took up the issue and determined the health hazards citizens are exposed to by the use of leaf blowers outweigh the questionable economic benefit blowers may bring to the cities and the County. The Grand Jury recommended that the cities, school districts, community college districts, and the County cease using gas-powered blowers in their maintenance and cleanup operations.
CHEMICAL POLLUTION
1. Toxic exhaust fumes and emissions include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. The American Lung Association calculated that a leaf blower causes as much smog as 17 cars.
2. The high-velocity air jets used in blowing leaves whip up dust and pollutants. The particulate matter (dust) swept into the air contains lead, fecal matter, pesticides, fungi, chemicals, fertilizers, spores, and street dirt. 5 lbs of PM per blower per hour are swept into the air and take hours to settle.
3. The Air Resources Board of California calculates the quantity of pollution injected into public air at TONS of pollutants per.
4. Instructions for the majority of leaf blowers require the use of ear, eye, and breathing protection for anyone within 50 feet; innocent bystanders don't have this choice
5. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1995, in an all-encompassing study on the costs and harmful effects of noise on health and society made a single, simple ruling on leaf blowers: "they should not be used!"
We, the undersigned petition the governing officials of the city of Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, and Marina to immediately ban the use of noise polluting and air polluting leaf blowers in all areas of their jurisdictions, and to declare a moratorium on the use of all leaf blowers in residentially zoned areas.
We also implore them to launch an information campaign in the form of TV and newspaper ads as well as brochures to be distributed to all registered lawn care and landscaping businesses, gardening and eco-centers to inform the public of the health hazards resulting from the use of leaf blowers.
This is why leaf blowers should be banned:
NOISE POLLUTION
1. They make noise at 100 times human tolerance level that is amplified by surrounding buildings.
2. Constant motor noise is linked to hearing loss, deafness, heart palpitations, strokes and serious disturbance of brain functions.
3. Leaf blowers threaten living spaces. Those of us who are home workers, day sleepers (because we work at night) or ill can't work, sleep or convalesce. Blower not only assault our health, they hinder our ability to earn a living;
4. The sounds generated by a leaf blower cause severe suffering to domestic pets and local fauna whose hearing is so much more sensitive than a human’s.
5. In Orange County, Calif., a grand jury even took up the issue and determined the health hazards citizens are exposed to by the use of leaf blowers outweigh the questionable economic benefit blowers may bring to the cities and the County. The Grand Jury recommended that the cities, school districts, community college districts, and the County cease using gas-powered blowers in their maintenance and cleanup operations.
CHEMICAL POLLUTION
1. Toxic exhaust fumes and emissions include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons. The American Lung Association calculated that a leaf blower causes as much smog as 17 cars.
2. The high-velocity air jets used in blowing leaves whip up dust and pollutants. The particulate matter (dust) swept into the air contains lead, fecal matter, pesticides, fungi, chemicals, fertilizers, spores, and street dirt. 5 lbs of PM per blower per hour are swept into the air and take hours to settle.
3. The Air Resources Board of California calculates the quantity of pollution injected into public air at TONS of pollutants per.
4. Instructions for the majority of leaf blowers require the use of ear, eye, and breathing protection for anyone within 50 feet; innocent bystanders don't have this choice
5. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1995, in an all-encompassing study on the costs and harmful effects of noise on health and society made a single, simple ruling on leaf blowers: "they should not be used!"
We, the undersigned petition the governing officials of the city of Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, and Marina to immediately ban the use of noise polluting and air polluting leaf blowers in all areas of their jurisdictions, and to declare a moratorium on the use of all leaf blowers in residentially zoned areas.
We also implore them to launch an information campaign in the form of TV and newspaper ads as well as brochures to be distributed to all registered lawn care and landscaping businesses, gardening and eco-centers to inform the public of the health hazards resulting from the use of leaf blowers.
Why is this important?
I work from home teaching online and creating online teaching materials for writing skills. It has become impossible to concentrate on any given day of the week as leaf blowers are used every day at all hours of the day! I have also ceased to hear birds for much of the day and started to hear neighbors' dogs barking during the day when leaf blowers run amok.