According to a new report, a federal regulator may consider outlawing gas stoves due to worries about the discharge of pollutants that might lead to health and respiratory issues.
This winter, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is expected to invite public comment on the risks associated with gas stoves. According to commissioner Richard Trumka Jr., the commission could attempt to ban the manufacture or import of the equipment or set regulations for emissions from the gas stoves.
“This is a hidden hazard. Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned,” trumka told the media
The EPA and WHO have declared the emissions from the stoves, which are found in around 40% of American households, to be dangerous. These pollutants include nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine particulates. Cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses have all been associated with the emissions. According to peer-reviewed research published last month in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, more than 12% of current occurrences of childhood asthma are related to the usage of gas stoves.
In a letter to the agency last month, Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) urged the commission to tackle the issue and referred to the hazardous emissions as a “cumulative burden” on black, Latino, and low-income homes.
But according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, cooking emits dangerous pollutants regardless of the type of stove being used.
Vice president of the group Jill Notini said that discussing ventilation rather than outlawing a certain technology is where the conversation should focus. “Banning one type of a cooking appliance is not going to address the concerns about overall indoor air quality. We may need some behavior change, we may need [people] to turn on their hoods when cooking.”
According to Karen Harbert, the company president, “The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and EPA do not present gas ranges as a significant contributor to adverse air quality or health hazards in their technical or public information literature, guidance, or requirements. The most practical, realistic way to achieve a sustainable future where energy is clean, as well as safe, reliable and affordable, is to ensure it includes natural gas and the infrastructure that transports it.”
