From the editor: gas stoves – a potential danger in the house

What more do you need to convince you that gas stoves are unhealthy, dangerous, and that containment, protection, and planning are necessary to prevent further damage?

The victims in this case are all people exposed to natural gas pollutants in their kitchens. But most of all, “children, low-income people, people of color, and people with pre-existing medical conditions are at particularly high risk of adverse health effects from gas stoves.” According to the Integrity Institute NYU policy in a recent paper.

40% of American homes cook on gas stoves. And in 60% of them, the gas stove produces pollution that would be illegal if found outside the home. This is absurd, because if these pollutants were outside, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would scream loudly.

But since they are in homes, there are no rules to protect them.

As a result, millions of users are exposed to pollutants exceeding federal regulations: nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and other toxins, which are especially high in winter.

These contaminants float on particles with a diameter of 1 to 2.5 microns. They can go straight into the lungs and from there into the bloodstream.

In recent years, there has been undeniable evidence of the harm to health caused by gas stoves. But little or nothing is done at the legislative or executive level.

Research History

Back in 2013, Berkeley Lab indoor air researchers found dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide in the air. a surprisingly large proportion of California home cuisines.

In 2018, the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health stated that “In a kitchen scenario in which the stove and oven are used simultaneously for one hour, the acute exposure to NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) from gas cooking exceeds air quality in the country or California.” threshold levels in more than 90% simulated emission scenarios”.

Last June, a study by the Harvard School of Public Health. didn’t burn down. And in January, a study originally published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and commented Washington Postreported that gas stoves are responsible for one in eight childhood asthma attacks.

The paper states the obvious: “The effects of the gas stove on the population are largely unknown.”

That same month, the University of Michigan School of Medicine also stated that “gas cooking has also previously been associated with an increased risk of asthma, especially in children living in apartment buildings.”

Over the past year and a half, the pace of study has increased several times.

In October 2022, the popular magazine Consumer Reports (CR) reported on the results of the review carried out by its experts.

“Kitchens to tasteCR built an insulated chamber with a range hood and fan, just like you have in your kitchen at home,” he explains.

The tests not only confirmed the already known conclusions, but also showed that this happens with almost all gas stoves and that even when they are turned off, polluting particles are emitted from the burners.

And sellers too

Also sellers can be part of the problem. Joint Survey Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and the Sierra Club found last December that many retailers fail to warn shoppers of the dangers of gas stoves or inform them of the safety measures they can take to protect their health. More than half the time, and if clients ask, they are told there is no cause for concern or health hazard.

While there has been limited desire at the federal level in the past to address this issue, a deluge of evidence over the past year has caused inaction to begin to crack. This, however, has not yet reached the level of Congress and the White House.

The public is not aware

But apart from the studies and the media that publish and comment on them, public and government awareness of the inherent risks of gas stoves is limited.

This situation is reminiscent of the campaign of lies and smears against the COVID vaccine and measures to contain its spread just two years ago. And also how, for decades, studies that showed that tobacco use causes cancer were scorned and contradicted by campaigns often run by tobacco company millionaires. Thanks to the struggle of environmentalists, scientists and activists, significant progress has been made in limiting the harm caused by cigarettes. at what price? Millions of lost lives.

Also be aware of the relentless struggle of firearms manufacturers to prevent laws restricting anyone’s access to deadly weapons, even if they are based on common sense. at what price? Each month, we must mourn the loss of schoolchildren, families, or the elderly as a result of the madness of well-armed attackers.

Just as vaccination, smoking, and gun rights have become major political issues dividing us, opposition to protecting people from gas stoves may follow the same path.

And while no one is serious about taking these millions of stoves off the market, there are politicians who take advantage of it and react as if expropriation is just around the corner.

The risk of this attitude is that science is once again ignored and the health of millions of people is endangered.

In January, Richard Trumka of the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in an interview that the agency might consider imposing restrictions on the sale of gas stoves. There have been reports on social media that the government wants to confiscate them.

Trumpka’s statement was individual, contradicting the position of all the other members of the commission. But the political and partisan frenzy was such that the agency’s CEO, Alexander Khen-Sharik, had to go public and refute the idea.

It didn’t help him much. Three weeks later, Ron De Santis, Governor of Florida and a possible presidential candidate in 2024, proposed exempt these stoves from taxessaying “They want to control every aspect of your life… …it’s all part of a bigger plan… …They want your gas stove and we won’t let that happen”

The reluctance to change and the call for confrontation are such that one can assume that if it were not for the opposition, a project would already be under way to limit the use of gas stoves or limit their harm.

possible solutions

The health hazard posed by gas stoves has been demonstrated by numerous studies. Suggested solutions range from spreading the word to stopping your future sales.

But, among other measures, some of them:

1. CPSC may issue a warning label for gas stoves.
2. CPSC will develop performance standards for gas stoves and range hoods, where they will need to measure their ability to trap pollutants.
3. Create a rating system for the best stain removal products.
4. Promote the transition to electric stoves through direct incentives, taxes and various information campaigns.

Information request

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is currently pursuing a formal request for information on this matter. They solicit public opinion on the health hazards of gas stoves and also solicit expert opinion.

To register your comment, follow this link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/07/2023-04554/request-for-information-on-chronic-hazards-associated-with-gas-ranges-and-proposed-solutions

In short, there is plenty of evidence for the dangers of gas stoves. There are measures to reduce the risk or completely prevent it. Most importantly, we stay informed to protect our families and our communities, and that we don’t turn a basic health issue into another scenario of political hostility.