Gas stoves are getting grilled.
Speculation rose last week that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission could ban the appliance. The agency’s head has since clarified that the agency has no plans to ban gas stoves, but debate is raging: On social media, consumers fought over the potential risks of the appliance. Natural gas stoves do emit air pollutants at levels the World Health Organization and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have deemed unsafe. A peer-reviewed study published last month found that more than 12% of current childhood asthma cases in the U.S. can be attributed to use of the common kitchen appliance.
Gas stoves are also taking heat from environmental groups. The burners produce carbon dioxide and—according to a study—leak methane, the main component of natural gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Already, a number of cities including New York and San Francisco have moved to restrict installation of gas burners.
