Biden not in favor of ban on gas stoves, White House says
CNN –
The White House said Wednesday that President Joe Biden does not support a ban on gas stoves after a federal consumer safety official suggested such a proposal was on the table.
The White House’s response follows a recent Bloomberg interview with Biden-appointed U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr., who called the home appliance a “hidden danger” and said “every option is on the table” in relations for their arrangement.
“Products that cannot be made safe can be banned,” he added. Besides a ban, other options include “setting standards for emissions from equipment,” Trumka said.
Pollutants from gas stoves have been linked to asthma and worsening respiratory conditions. A December 2022 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that indoor gas stove use is associated with an increased risk of current asthma in children. The study found that almost 13% of current childhood asthma in the US is attributable to the use of gas stoves.
And lawmakers in Washington recently argued that black, Latino and low-income families are more likely to be affected by these negative reactions because they are either more likely to live near a waste incinerator or coal ash site. or are in a house with poor ventilation. .
A White House spokesman told CNN on Wednesday, “The president does not support a ban on gas stoves — and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is independent, is not banning gas stoves.”
The CPSC has been considering action on gas stoves for months. Trumka recommended in October that the commission seek public comment on the dangers associated with gas stoves.
But earlier Wednesday, after Bloomberg’s report, CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric clarified in a statement that he is “not seeking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no action to do so.”
“The CPSC is researching gas emissions from stoves and exploring new ways to address health risks. The CPSC is also actively engaged in strengthening voluntary safety standards for gas stoves. And later this spring, we will be asking the public to provide us with information about gas stove emissions and possible solutions to reduce any associated risks,” he added.
While Trumka clarified that “the CPSC is not coming for anyone’s gas stoves,” he also added that “the rules apply to new products.”
Although Trumka has previously expressed interest in considering stricter regulations on gas stoves, including a ban, the other four members of the CPSC have not gone as far in their support for implementing such strict restrictions on the appliances. E&E News reported that in October, Trumka proposed directing agency staff to begin an overhaul to regulate gas stoves. But Trumka acknowledged the lack of support at the time and withdrew the amendment. Instead, commissioners agreed to “obtain public input on the dangers associated with gas stoves.”
Thirty-five percent of US households use a gas stove, and the number approaches 70% in some states like California and New Jersey. Other studies have found that these stoves emit significant levels of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter – which without proper ventilation can raise indoor concentration levels to unsafe levels, as assessed by the Agency. for environmental protection.
