 **Big thanks to Judith Boland, Resident and Retired Physician for sharing this
Another sun-drenched, colorful fall day in October. I step outside. We love that we live within a walk of two elementary schools, athletic fields and Wellesley Square. A grandmother is pushing her grandchild for a stroll. Leaves are drifting down like confetti - magical. Simultaneously, two, two stroke gas engine leaf blowers are up and running in unison around the block. My decibel app shows 60 dB- (the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against this and greater levels of noise for babies). The grandmother is most likely aware - she is having to raise her voice to respond to the toddler- and she probably can smell the fumes, even from here -as can I. We are breathing in Volatile Organic Compounds. Benzene - a long known carcinogen, nitrous oxide - a powerful greenhouse gas, and tiny particles known as PM2.5 which, among other alarming cardiovascular and respiratory health risks have now been shown to be linked to the EGFR mutation in various cancers. See the Resolution of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers passed by the Mass. Medical Society here. As she and the baby walk closer to their neighbors’ landscapers they will also be breathing in the dust from dried animal feces, pesticide and herbicide residues, brake dust, mold spores, possibly lead residues from old paint and more...The risk to the baby is concerning to say the least. All of these exposures and their risks are highest for the operators of the two stroke engines. Later that day I walked past that same grandmother’s house. The yard is carpeted in oak leaves, piles of deep red oak leaves are edging the streets. She is using a lithium battery leaf blower to create a big pile of leaves, possibly to be vacuumed up into a landscaper’s truck. Nearby is a rake. She might not put it this way but she is demonstrating public health risk mitigation. I aim to do the same. Would you? When speaking to my landscaping crew, I will take into consideration that they are now being told that one of their most basic tools of their trade is risky. So much so that communities near and far are banning the use of two stroke gas engine leaf blowers to protect the health of workers, children, the public, and the environment. Instead of having the landscaping company do their twice yearly “business as usual”, I will try something new:
 Tired of lawn care that causes high pollution and incessant noise? Learn more and demo electric equipment, lawn services and robotic mowers on July 16th 10am-12pm and 2-4pm in Natick. Thanks to the sponsors for this free event!
 "Quest for Quiet"
Join a Lunchtime Conference Series presented by Quiet Communities Environmental noise threatens the health of millions of Americans, especially those in low income and minority communities. Harmful noise emanates from sources including air, road, and rail transportation, construction, land care, industry and even recreation and entertainment venues. Often it is associated with harmful pollution. The lack of effective federal and state programs to help abate noise makes it critical for communities to work together to share ideas, resources, and success stories and encourage our governments to re-establish noise abatement and control programs. In this conference you will learn as well, as help build a community network that can work together to reduce noise in our communities. Brief speaker presentations will be followed by an interactive discussion. Part 1 - Setting the Stage
Register Join the meeting if you are interested in making our communities quieter and healthier. Yes; Quiet Communities -- the Mass. non profit -- are the ones that led Wellesley's Quiet, Healthy Yards, A Regional Residential Land Care Workshop last spring. |
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Sign up for updates! |
Contact |
Support us! |
Follow us!Copyright © 2024 By Sustainable Wellesley
|