A federal agency will soon begin considering banning or regulating natural gas stoves in the US, after studies linked the harmful effects of air pollution to certain household appliances.
In an interview, Richard Trumka, the head of the Consumer Product Safety Administration, said his agency would take action to address the issue of air pollution from gas stoves.
In an interview with Bloomberg, "Trumka stated that the agency was considering banning or regulating the use of gas stoves. He also noted that products that cannot be made safer could be banned."
According to a spokesperson, the agency has already started collecting information about the hazards associated with using natural gas cooking appliances.
In December, Trumka, who was appointed by Vice President Joe Biden, said that the agency's request for information was the first step in a long process toward regulating gas cooking appliances.
He stated that the agency was considering banning new gas stoves, and that it could issue regulations before the end of next year.
Almost 40% of homes in the U.S. feature gas stoves, which are known to emit harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. The WHO and the EPA have also deemed these types of stoves as unsafe.
Studies have shown that these types of gas cooking appliances can release methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, even when they're turned off.
A study published last month revealed that about 12.7% of children in the US suffer from asthma due to the harmful effects of gas stove pollution.
The study, which was conducted by the RMI environmental think tank, estimated that 650,000 cases of asthma were linked to the use of gas stoves.
A spokesperson for the CPSC noted that it has not yet issued any regulations regarding the use of gas stoves.
A spokesperson also noted that the agency had started working with other organizations to address the issue of air pollutants and the hazards associated with using gas stoves.
The preceding is a summary of an article that originally appeared on Washington Examiner.
