Multistate Coalition Highlights Dangerous Impacts of Gas Stoves on Health and Safety and Disparate Impact on Children
BALTIMORE, MD (May 9, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brownjoined a multistate coalition of Attorneys General calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency responsible for regulating the safety of US consumer products, to address the public health and safety dangers of gas stoves, highlighting the disparate negative impact on children and underserved, over-burdened communities.
Gas stoves are used in about 40% of homes in the United States. They emit air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter that have been linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other health conditions at levels the EPA and World Health Organization have said are unsafe. Children are particularly susceptible; studies show that children who live in a home with a gas stove are 42% more likely to experience asthma symptoms.
The risks gas stoves pose is a health equity issue. Lower-income homes are at a higher risk of exposure to gas stove pollution because of smaller unit sizes, more people per home, old and unmaintained appliances, inadequate ventilation, home-heating via the gas stove, and lack of resources to upgrade to a new appliance.
"A safe and healthy home is not a privilege, it is a baseline expectation,” said Attorney General Brown. “The dangers presented by gas stoves disproportionately affects children and underserved families and communities. These recommendations we are putting forth to the Consumer Product Safety Commission are critical steps towards addressing the health and safety risks associated with gas stoves. Just as Marylanders expect to live in a safe and healthy environment, they should expect that I will always fight to ensure that is their reality in their home.”
In response to the CPSC’s request for information on gas stove hazards and potential solutions to those hazards, the coalition provided the following recommendations:
BALTIMORE, MD (May 9, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brownjoined a multistate coalition of Attorneys General calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency responsible for regulating the safety of US consumer products, to address the public health and safety dangers of gas stoves, highlighting the disparate negative impact on children and underserved, over-burdened communities.
Gas stoves are used in about 40% of homes in the United States. They emit air pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter that have been linked to respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems, cancer, and other health conditions at levels the EPA and World Health Organization have said are unsafe. Children are particularly susceptible; studies show that children who live in a home with a gas stove are 42% more likely to experience asthma symptoms.
The risks gas stoves pose is a health equity issue. Lower-income homes are at a higher risk of exposure to gas stove pollution because of smaller unit sizes, more people per home, old and unmaintained appliances, inadequate ventilation, home-heating via the gas stove, and lack of resources to upgrade to a new appliance.
"A safe and healthy home is not a privilege, it is a baseline expectation,” said Attorney General Brown. “The dangers presented by gas stoves disproportionately affects children and underserved families and communities. These recommendations we are putting forth to the Consumer Product Safety Commission are critical steps towards addressing the health and safety risks associated with gas stoves. Just as Marylanders expect to live in a safe and healthy environment, they should expect that I will always fight to ensure that is their reality in their home.”
In response to the CPSC’s request for information on gas stove hazards and potential solutions to those hazards, the coalition provided the following recommendations:
- CPSC should develop uniform performance standards for gas stoves.
- Mandatory ventilation standards are needed to ensure an effective reduction of indoor pollutants, including an automatic ventilation mechanism for range hoods that vent to the outdoors.
- General performance and efficiency standards are also necessary, including emissions maximums for dangerous pollutants and sensors that alert users when pollutants reach unsafe concentrations.
- CPSC should work to increase consumer awareness of the health hazards associated with gas stoves so consumers can take steps to protect themselves.
- CPSC can increase consumer awareness by requiring warning labels on gas stoves to have more information on potential health risks and conducting public education campaigns to inform consumers on the health effects of gas stove emissions and the importance of external ventilation for these products.
