In the US, gas stoves may be banned: scientists have found that they are harmful to health

A federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves, a source of indoor air pollution that worsens childhood asthma and respiratory diseases, reports CNN.

Photo: IStock

In an interview, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner stated that the use of gas stoves is a "hidden danger".

The report says the agency plans to "take action" to address indoor pollution caused by stoves.

The US Consumer Product Safety Agency (CPSC) has been considering action against gas stoves for months. In October, agency commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr. recommended that the CPSC consider public opinion about the dangers associated with gas stoves. Cookers have been linked to asthma and worsening respiratory conditions.

On the subject: In the United States, all air travel was stopped due to a malfunction in a computer program

A December 2022 review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that indoor gas stove use was associated with an increased risk of current asthma among children. The study found that nearly 13% of current cases of childhood asthma in the US are attributable to the use of gas stoves.

Trumka said the agency plans to open a public discussion about the dangers associated with gas stoves. Options other than a ban include "setting emission standards for appliances".

Thirty-five percent of households in the United States use gas stoves, and in some states, such as California and New Jersey, this figure is closer to 70 percent. Other studies have shown that these stoves emit significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter, which, without proper ventilation, can raise indoor concentration levels to unsafe levels, according to the EPA.

Like the article? Support ForumDaily!?

“Short-term exposure to NO2 is associated with worsening asthma in children, and long-term exposure can cause asthma to develop,” the group of legislators said in a letter to Chairman Alexander Hyun-Sharik. Gas stoves also exacerbate cardiovascular disease.

In a statement, CPSC said the agency has not proposed any regulatory action for gas stoves at this time, and any regulatory action "would involve a lengthy process."

“Agency staff plans to begin collecting data and public input on potential hazards associated with gas stoves and propose solutions to those hazards later this year,” the commission said in a statement. “Commission staff also continue to work with voluntary standards organizations to study emissions from gas stoves and address potential hazards.”

Some cities in the US have banned natural gas connections in all new buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions - Berkeley in 2019, San Francisco in 2020, New York in 2021.

The Home Appliance Manufacturers Association said improved ventilation is the solution to prevent indoor air pollution during cooking.

“Banning gas cooking appliances will remove an affordable and preferred technology used in more than 40% of homes nationwide,” industry spokeswoman Jill Notini said in a statement. “Banning gas cooking will not solve the overall problem of indoor air quality during cooking because all forms of cooking, regardless of heat source, release air pollutants, especially at high temperatures.”

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New Y.

The American Gas Association opposed the natural gas ban in a blog post in December, saying it makes housing more expensive as "electric homes require costly upgrades."

However, Biden's landmark Inflation Reduction Act provides for a discount of up to $840 on an electric stove or other electrical appliances and up to $500 on the cost of switching from gas to electricity.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Rating of the safest airlines in the world: only one carrier from the USA is in the top ten

In the US, it is recommended to treat obesity in children with pills and even surgery

Frontier will give free flights to those who adopt a kitten from a shelter

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.