PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Sure, they can be noisy, but do you know just how much gas-powered garden equipment like lawnmowers and leaf blowers pollute the air?
A 2020 Environmental Protection Agency study says they produce up to 5% of the nation’s air pollution.
With that in mind, PennEnvironment, a statewide environmental nonprofit, released a 2020 study Monday on the impact gas-powered tools have on the environment.
According to the study, gas-powered lawn and garden care equipment in Pennsylvania emitted 965 tons of fine particulates — pollutants often linked to things like respiratory ailments, reproductive and mental health issues, and premature death — into the atmosphere, which is the equivalent of emissions from about 10,358,520 cars in the course of a year.
The study also found that, across the country, these types of garden tools emitted nearly 22,000 tons of fine particulates, as well as more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide, which they note is the leading cause of global warming.
Additionally, around 68,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 350,000 tons of volatile organic compounds were released — both of which are chemical components of ground-level ozone, which can be known to trigger asthma attacks.
For these reasons, the study, as well as those at the Fairmount Water Works press conference on Monday, say electric lawn equipment is a better option.
“In a world where every small change can have a significant impact on our planet, and our future and our quality of life, choosing electronic alternatives to yard work is a clear step in the right direction,” said Wallace Weaver, communications director for Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood, who has worked across many state departments on climate plans.