Gas Stove Ban Being Eyed in the U.S. Due to 'Hidden Hazards'

Amid rising concerns over the harmful indoor air pollutants emitted by gas stoves, a U.S. federal agency is reportedly considering a national ban on the said appliances.

According to USA Today, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety commissioner told Bloomberg that using a gas stove is a "hidden hazard" that can lead to health concerns, such as respiratory problems in children.

"Any option is on the table. Products that can't be made safe can be banned," agency commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. told the outlet, which first broke the news.

According to Bloomberg, the agency plans to "take action" to address the indoor pollution caused by gas stoves.

CPSC Says Gas Stove Ban Is Not Yet Official

Richard Trumka Jr. tweeted late Monday that only new appliances would be subject to regulations.

"To be clear, CPSC [Consumer Product Safety Commission] isn't coming for anyone's gas stoves. Regulations apply to new products. For Americans who CHOOSE to switch from gas to electric, there is support available," he noted, adding that Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes an $840 rebate to replace equipment like gas stoves.

In a statement, a CPSC spokesperson said there was no official proposal on the matter yet, and that any action to regulate the appliances would involve a "lengthy process," NBC News reported.

The spokesperson noted that the agency staff plans to begin gathering data and perspectives from the public on potential hazards linked with gas stoves and proposed solutions to those hazards later this year.

"Commission staff also continues to work with voluntary standards organizations to examine gas stove emissions and address potential hazards," the statement concluded.

In the United States, gas stoves are still used by around 40% of households, with some chefs favoring them.

Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and methane are all substances that can be released from these stoves, especially if used in poorly ventilated spaces or if the stoves are not maintained.

According to a recent study, using a gas stove in the house has been linked to as many as 1 in 8 occurrences of childhood asthma in the United States.

According to reports by groups such as the Institute for Policy Integrity and the American Chemical Society, gas stoves

also release fine particulate matter at levels the Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization said are unsafe and linked to heart issues, respiratory disease, cancer, and other health problems.

Is It Time To Throw Your Gas Stove?

If young children in a home have asthma or other breathing disorders, the health hazards outweigh the benefits of using a gas-powered stove for cooking.

Using a high-efficiency range hood that vents air contaminants outside, rather than recirculating it within, is a simple step parents may take to lessen the negative impact of gas cooking, TIME reported.

The National Asthma Council suggests that people who do not have an exhaust hood should open a window during and after cooking.

While there are regulations for gas-powered heating appliances like boilers, water heaters, and clothes dryers, the government does not mandate that these appliances vent their emissions outside.

But instead of proposing a gas stove ban, the CPSC could instead decide to implement new requirements for ventilation, according to Brady Sears, a manager in the carbon-free building program at the nonprofit clean energy group RMI.

The only way for an outside gas stove vent to accomplish its job is if the user remembers to turn it on. However, it may not eliminate all the health concerns.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to Consider Gas Stove Ban - From USA TODAY