{"id":3245,"date":"2023-01-12T13:42:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T18:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/pennsylvania\/articles\/gas-stoves-and-your-health-what-you-need-to-know-to-keep-your-family-safe-healthy\/"},"modified":"2023-01-12T13:42:22","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T18:42:22","slug":"gas-stoves-and-your-health-what-you-need-to-know-to-keep-your-family-safe-healthy","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/dev.pirg-test.com\/pennsylvania\/articles\/gas-stoves-and-your-health-what-you-need-to-know-to-keep-your-family-safe-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Gas stoves and your health: What you need to know to keep your family safe, healthy"},"featured_media":45604,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":""},"campaign_tax":[],"display_option":[],"issue_tax":[],"person_tax":[],"region_tax":[],"state":[2],"topic_tax":[139,130,131,153,145],"class_list":["post-3245","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_taxonomies":{"topics":[130,131,139,145,153],"collection":false,"press_type":false,"person_type":false,"resource_type":false,"event_type":false,"campaigns":false,"department":false,"level":false,"states":[2],"act_option":false,"display_option":false,"primary":{"topic":145}},"featured_image":45604,"caption_override":"","excerpt":"The kitchen appliance has been all over the news since CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr. discussed the cons of these appliances","updated_on":null,"sidebar_action":[],"hide_hero_image":false,"sidebar_action_query_string":""},"helper_people_group":{"title":"Authors","entities":[{"type":"dynamic","dynamic_person":{"site":16,"people":"137"},"information":{"name":"","image":null,"role":"","biography":"","contact":{"twitter":"","facebook":"","email":"","phone":""}}}]},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"You may have noticed a lot of news stories about gas stoves lately. The flurry of news coverage began with a report about a potential \u201c<\/span>gas stoves ban<\/span><\/a>\u201d under consideration from regulators at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).<\/span>\r\n\r\nDespite how many are characterizing this story, that\u2019s one myth that can be busted right away. There is no proposed federal ban on gas stoves. Here\u2019s what the CPSC is actually doing, <\/span>according<\/span><\/a> the Chair of the Commission, Alex Hoehn-Saric:<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cCPSC is researching gas emissions in stoves and exploring new ways to address health risks.\u00a0 CPSC also is actively engaged in strengthening voluntary safety standards for gas stoves.\u00a0 And later this spring, we will be asking the public to provide us with information about gas stove emissions and potential solutions for reducing any associated risks.\u00a0 This is part of our product safety mission \u2013 learning about hazards and working to make products safer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nOne of the other members of the commission, Richard Trumka, Jr., <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> of the process: \u201cThis is a hidden hazard. Any option is on the table. Products that can\u2019t be made safe can be banned.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nSo is the CPSC considering a ban on gas stoves? No. Snopes even rated this claim as <\/span>false<\/span><\/a>. But is the CPSC doing its job (reviewing the research and data to determine the risk and looking at the available options to make the product safer)? Yes. And that\u2019s a good thing.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith this issue getting some much attention, here are the facts you need to know to keep your family safe and healthy:<\/span><\/b>","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"wide","image":"","caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_accordion","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_accordion":{"title":"","entries":[{"title":"1. Gas stove pollution is putting our health at risk","content":"What is the problem with gas stoves anyway?<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe wave of media attention comes on the heels of yet another peer-reviewed <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> showing the link between gas stoves and health harms. Researchers at RMI, University of Sydney and the Albert Einstein School of Medicine found that gas stoves are responsible for more than 12% of -- or one in eight -- childhood asthma cases nationwide. Researchers found gas stoves pose a similar asthma risk to children as <\/span>secondhand smoke<\/span><\/a> exposure.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThis is the latest in nearly 50 years of studies showing that gas stoves are bad for our health. <\/span>Simply using a gas stove releases significant nitrogen dioxide (NO<\/span>2<\/span>) pollution <\/span>indoors <\/span><\/i>at concentrations that can <\/span>exceed<\/span><\/a> outdoor air quality standards. Burning methane gas in our stoves also releases carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and particulate matter into the air.<\/span>\r\n\r\nRecent studies suggest that even when gas stoves are off, they may also pollute our air. A <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> from Boston found 21 hazardous air pollutants \u2013 including benzene \u2013 leaking into homes from unburned gas. A <\/span>similar study<\/span><\/a> conducted in California kitchens found hazardous air pollutants accumulating in homes through leaking gas, including benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen <\/span>linked<\/span><\/a> to blood disorders and leukemia. Researchers found benzene concentrations above California\u2019s recommended exposure limit \u2013 levels comparable to <\/span>living with a smoker<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe CPSC\u2019s investigation into gas stoves isn\u2019t coming out of nowhere. Nearly 40 years ago, amid a public debate about indoor air pollution, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if it should be concerned about the impact of NO<\/span>2<\/span> emitted from gas stoves. The EPA <\/span>responded<\/span><\/a> in 1986 that the pollutant could have harmful health effects, and the CPSC should investigate the concentrations of NO<\/span>2<\/span> in America\u2019s kitchens. But there has been no action by either agency as of yet, and in a recent survey, we <\/span>found<\/span><\/a> that consumers are not getting the information they need to protect themselves and their families when shopping for stoves.<\/span>"},{"title":"2. Doesn\u2019t all cooking \u2013 no matter the type of stove \u2013 pollute the air?","content":"You may have seen this argument among some of the coverage \u2013 it\u2019s one of the gas industry\u2019s favorite go-tos. All cooking produces some level of particulate matter, but using fossil-fuel powered stoves results in levels of <\/span>nitrogen dioxide pollution<\/span><\/a> 50% - 400% higher than in homes with electric stoves. This nitrogen dioxide, which is linked with asthma risk, comes only when you burn a fossil fuel. The gas burned in gas stoves also contains other toxic chemicals that leak into homes around the clock.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nElectric and induction stoves do not rely on combustion and therefore, produce no toxic chemicals inside the home.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>"},{"title":"3. How to protect your family","content":"If you have a gas stove, there are ways you can reduce your exposure to pollution. Here are some tips:\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\nUse proper ventilation.<\/i><\/strong>\r\n\r\nProper ventilation is important while using any type of stove, but it\u2019s absolutely essential if your stove is fueled by gas. The best kind of ventilation comes from a <\/span>ducted range hood<\/span><\/a>, installed above the stove to catch air and smoke as it rises and move the polluted air outside the home. Always use your range hood for the entire duration of stove use\u2014 turn it on when you start cooking and don\u2019t turn it off until you\u2019re done.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAdopt some quick fix solutions to help reduce your exposure.<\/i><\/strong>\r\n\r\nIf you have a gas stove and don\u2019t own a range hood, you should seriously consider purchasing one. However, if you don\u2019t have one and can\u2019t get one in the near future, or if you rent your home, you can take other measures to improve indoor air quality:<\/span>\r\n