AG Brown calls for federal action to address health and safety risks of gas stoves

In a letter to the CPSC, 11 Attorneys General outlined their concerns with gas stoves, highlighting studies that show that children who live in a home with a gas stove are 42% more likely to experience asthma symptoms, and that nearly 13% of childhood asthma cases can be attributed to gas stoves.

In the letter, the Attorneys General also provided a set of regulatory reccomendations to the CPSC including:

• 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.

“We thank Attorney General Brown for joining the call to action for stricter standards and warning labels for gas stoves,” said Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr. “Consumers have a right to know about the heath risks associated with gas stoves, and any products on the market.”