What are leaf blowers doing to the brains of Mexican children?
Studies show leaf blowers pose unexpected health hazards, especially for Mexico By John Pint Mexican kids: what is in the air they’re breathing and what is their future? Photo: John Pint EN ESPAÑOL A recent analysis by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City indicates that the air and noise pollution from gas leaf blowers (GLBs) seriously impact respiratory health and are also associated with problems like cancer, heart disease and dementia—and that children, in particular, are highly susceptible to these hazards. A separate study shows how extremely tiny particles of metal from small gas engines can be carried directly to the brain via the olfactory nerve, producing the features of autism, attention-deficit disorder, and schizophrenia. These studies suppose seasonal use of GLBs to blow leaves off paths, not the heavy and frequent use now in vogue throughout Mexico. The toxic cloud from a leaf blower can remain in the air for hours or even days. The M...