Key TakeawaysFederal commissioner Rich Trumka, Jr., with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is considering a ban on gas stoves in the United States due to concerns over consumer health and safety.The CPSC clarified in a statement that the agency has not proposed any regulatory action on gas stoves at this time.While there have been no formal recommendations or bans on gas stoves from the CPSC, health experts say there are health risks associated with using the appliance—including exposure to pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and methane.

Key Takeaways

Federal commissioner Rich Trumka, Jr., with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is considering a ban on gas stoves in the United States due to concerns over consumer health and safety.The CPSC clarified in a statement that the agency has not proposed any regulatory action on gas stoves at this time.While there have been no formal recommendations or bans on gas stoves from the CPSC, health experts say there are health risks associated with using the appliance—including exposure to pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and methane.

Despite what you may have heard, gas stoves aren’t going anywhere.

Headlines about a ban on gas stoves from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) neglect to mention one thing: The idea of a ban came informally from one commissioner, and the agency has no plans on the horizon to propose a gas stove ban.

The CPSC does, however, plan to monitor their impact on your health.

“To be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so,”Alexander Hoehn-Saric, CPSC Chair, told Verywell in a statement. “The CPSC is researching gas emissions in stoves and exploring new ways to address any health risks.”

He added the agency is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards and is actively engaged in strengthening voluntary safety standards for gas stoves. Because while they’re not banned, they’re still not great for your health.

Why Are We Worried About Gas Stoves?

“Gas stoves can emit dangerous levels of toxic chemicals—even when not in use—and @USCPSC will consider all approaches to regulation," commissionerRichard Trumka, Jr., wrote in a tweet.

Trumka also called gas stoves a “hidden hazard” in aninterview with Bloomberg Newspublished the same day, and said any option could be on the table to regulate the appliances.

“Products that can’t be made safe can be banned,” he said. “Besides barring the manufacture or import of gas stoves, options include setting standards on emissions from the appliances.”

Gas Stoves Are Bad for the Environment Even When They’re Turned Off

“Agency staff plans to start gathering data and perspectives from the public on potential hazards associated with gas stoves, and proposed solutions to those hazards later this year,” the statement said. “Commission staff also continues to work with voluntary standards organizations to examine gas stove emissions and address potential hazards.”

Trumka later clarified in a tweet that the CPSC “isn’t coming for anyone’s gas stoves,” and that any new regulations put into place would only “apply to new products.”

How Many Households Have Gas Stoves?According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), nearly 40% of American households—about 40 million homes—still use gas stoves for cooking. In addition, California (70%) and New Jersey (69%) are the two states where households are the most likely to still use natural gas for cooking.

How Many Households Have Gas Stoves?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), nearly 40% of American households—about 40 million homes—still use gas stoves for cooking. In addition, California (70%) and New Jersey (69%) are the two states where households are the most likely to still use natural gas for cooking.

Potential Health Risks of Gas Stoves

Burning gas indoors produces a mixture of harmful air pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

“Breathing high levels of NO2 irritates the airways of your respiratory system and can trigger respiratory symptoms,” Kephart said. “Long-term exposure to NO2 can lead to chronic inflammation that contributes to the development of disease in your lungs, heart, and other organs.”

The 7 Most Common Types of Respiratory Disease

Gas stoves can also emit other indoor pollutants such as carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), and methane, which can affect an individual’s overall health and wellbeing,Robert Glatter, MD, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, told Verywell in an email.

Even when a gas stove is off, it can leak small quantities of natural gas, which is mostly composed of methane. According to Glatter, this can exacerbate the progression of coronary artery disease, chronic lung disease, and even contribute to cancer.

Asthma Is a Top Concern

Because of their ability to irritate the respiratory system when inhaled, indoor air pollutants are especially harmful to children and older adults, including those with asthma.

A recent study found that almost 13% of current childhood asthma cases in the U.S. can be linked to the use of a gas stove. In some states where gas stove use is higher, like Illinois, California, and New York, that number is closer to 20%.

Asthma Risk in People of Color

“Our research also found that almost 43% of homes with children cook with gas, which affects children’s exposure to gas stove pollution,” study coauthorBrady Sealstold Verywell.

Seals, who serves as a manager in the carbon-free buildings program at the nonprofit clean energy groupRMI, explained that indoor gas cooking produces a similar level of asthma risk for children as secondhand smoke exposure.

What to Do if You Have a Gas Stove

Short of replacing your gas stove out of caution, you can run your stove’s vent.

Eric Lebel, PhD, a senior scientist at the nonprofit research institutePSE Health Energy, told Verywell it’s important to use the vent each time you cook, regardless of what you’re cooking.

“Increasing the ventilation will help to reduce some of the concentrations of pollutants that can build up while using the stove,” Lebel said.

Even if you don’t have an electric stove, electric appliances like crockpots, tea kettles, air fryers, and countertop induction units can be used in place of a gas stove.

Glatter is a bigger proponent of making the switch to an electric stove when you can, especially if you have young children or someone in your household is living with a chronic condition.

“Homeowners should strongly consider replacing gas stoves with electric stoves, not only for the sake of the health of their children and their families, but for the health of our planet in general,” he said. “It’s about an investment in future generations and reducing our overall carbon footprint.”

If homeowners cannot afford to upgrade their gas appliances to electric ones, Kephart said the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 providesmajor financial support, like rebates and credits, for households who do make the swap—up to $840 for a new electric cooking appliance.

What This Means For YouWhile there are no existing bans or regulations on gas stoves in the United States from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, health experts say if you have a gas stove, you may want to consider replacing it with an electric stove. Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, households canapply for a rebate or credit through their stateto replace gas appliances with electric ones.

What This Means For You

While there are no existing bans or regulations on gas stoves in the United States from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, health experts say if you have a gas stove, you may want to consider replacing it with an electric stove. Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, households canapply for a rebate or credit through their stateto replace gas appliances with electric ones.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Energy Information Administration.In 2020, most U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal a day at home.Environmental Protection Agency.Setting and reviewing standards to control NO2 pollution,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrogen dioxide.Gruenwald T, Seals BA, Knibbs LD, Hosgood HD III.Population attributable fraction of gas stoves and childhood asthma in the United States.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):75. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010075

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Energy Information Administration.In 2020, most U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal a day at home.Environmental Protection Agency.Setting and reviewing standards to control NO2 pollution,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrogen dioxide.Gruenwald T, Seals BA, Knibbs LD, Hosgood HD III.Population attributable fraction of gas stoves and childhood asthma in the United States.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):75. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010075

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Energy Information Administration.In 2020, most U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal a day at home.Environmental Protection Agency.Setting and reviewing standards to control NO2 pollution,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrogen dioxide.Gruenwald T, Seals BA, Knibbs LD, Hosgood HD III.Population attributable fraction of gas stoves and childhood asthma in the United States.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):75. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010075

U.S. Energy Information Administration.In 2020, most U.S. households prepared at least one hot meal a day at home.

Environmental Protection Agency.Setting and reviewing standards to control NO2 pollution,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nitrogen dioxide.

Gruenwald T, Seals BA, Knibbs LD, Hosgood HD III.Population attributable fraction of gas stoves and childhood asthma in the United States.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):75. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010075

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