Is the Gas Stove as Dangerous as Cigarettes? ... US Considers Ban on Sales

Consumer Product Safety Commission Reviews Ban on Residential Gas Ranges
"Gas Ranges Estimated to Cause Over 12% of Childhood Asthma Cases in the U.S."

Cooking food on a gas stove

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] The U.S. government is considering a ban on the sale of gas ranges due to concerns that gas leaks occur not only when the gas range is in use but also when it is turned off.

According to Bloomberg News on the 9th (local time), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering measures to ban the sale of gas ranges citing health and respiratory issues. They are also reviewing options such as manufacturing bans, import bans, and setting gas emission standards.

Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. stated, "This is a hidden danger," adding, "Products that are not made safely could be banned." The commission plans to publicly gather opinions soon regarding the risks associated with gas ranges.

Some organizations claim that gas ranges, used in about 40% of U.S. households, emit nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and fine dust particles, which are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The PSE Helci Energy research team in California released findings that natural gas leaks from gas ranges and gas ovens can cause indoor benzene concentrations to exceed the recommended standards set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). The research team explained, "If the leak rate is high and ventilation is poor, these recommended standards are exceeded," adding, "Exceeding these standards is equivalent to being exposed to secondhand smoke indoors."

Additionally, last month, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reported that over 12% of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. are linked to gas range usage. Brady Shields, a co-author of the study, emphasized, "There have been studies over the past 50 years showing that gas ranges are harmful to health, and the strongest evidence is in childhood asthma cases."

On the other hand, the Consumer Technology Association, which includes gas range manufacturers, argues that harmful byproducts are produced during the cooking process rather than from the gas ranges themselves. The association stated, "What needs to be discussed is ventilation, not banning a specific type of technology," and added, "Banning a specific type does not resolve concerns about indoor air quality." They explained that behavioral changes such as turning on the hood for ventilation while cooking are necessary.