The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced he has no plans to ban gas stoves days after a report said officials with the agency were considering putting a stop to the use of them.
“Over the past several days, there has been a lot of attention paid to gas stove emissions and to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, and the CPSC is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards,” CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric said in a statement Wednesday. “But to be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so.”
The news comes after a U.S. Consumer Product Safety commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said in an interview with Bloomberg the agency was considering a ban because gas stoves have become a “hidden hazard.”
Trumka Jr.’s comments cause political firestorm as he later clarified on Twitter “CPSC isn’t coming for anyone’s gas stoves.”
Previously: Federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves in the US, report says
No more fire in the kitchen: Cities are banning natural gas in homes to save the planet
Gas stoves, which are used in more than 40 million U.S homes according to a January 2022 study , emit air pollutants like methane and nitrogen oxides that can cause respiratory diseases.
A December 2022 study concluded gas stoves could be responsible for more than 12% of childhood asthma cases in the U.S.
Reports from the Institute for Policy Integrity and the American Chemical Society added gas stoves can also cause heart issues, cancer and other medical problems.
Reports stated the CPSC had been considering an action on gas stoves since the fall, as Trumka Jr. recommended in October the agency seek public comment on gas stove hazards.
In his statement Wednesday, Hoehn-Saric said the agency is researching the gas emissions from the stoves and how to address health risks, as well as strengthening safety standards.
“This spring, we will be asking the public to provide us with information about gas stove emissions and potential solutions for reducing any associated risks. This is part of our product safety mission – learning about hazards and working to make products safer,” Hoehn-Saric said.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5 .
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