Heinrich Urges CPSC to Address Dangerous Indoor Air Pollutions Emitted by Gas Stoves
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), founder and co-chair of the Electrification Caucus, is urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to address the high level of dangerous indoor air pollutants emitted by gas stoves.
Reports have found that gas stoves, which are used by more than 40 million homes across the country, emit dangerous air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Without adequate ventilation, this can cause serious health risks and raise indoor air pollutants to levels that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be unsafe even for the outdoors.
“In addition to the climate impacts, these emissions represent real health risks to millions of Americans. Both NO2 and PM2.5 are known to exacerbate respiratory conditions,” wrote the members of Congress to Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. “Short-term exposure to NO2 is linked to worsening asthma in children, and long-term exposure has been determined to likely cause the development of asthma. Both pollutants have also been linked to cardiovascular impacts and a range of other adverse health issues. Even low-level CO exposure can exacerbate cardiovascular illness among people with coronary heart disease and other vulnerable populations.”
The members of Congress continued, “These emissions can create a cumulative burden to households that are already more likely to face higher exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. Statistics show that Black, Latino, and low-income households are more likely to experience disproportionate air pollution, either from being more likely to be located near a waste incinerator or coal ash site, or living in smaller homes with poor ventilation, malfunctioning appliances, mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke, lead dust, pests, and other maintenance deficiencies.”
Additionally, the letter urges the CPSC to consider taking the following actions to help protect Americans from the hazards of gas stove emissions:
- Require gas stoves to be sold with range hoods that meet mandatory performance standards, assessing their efficiency of removing the pollutants,
- Where feasible, issue mandatory performance standards for gas stoves that address steady-state-off leakage, including requiring automatic shut-off valves,
- Where feasible, issue mandatory performance standards for gas stoves that address the health impacts of hazardous emissions,
- Require labels on gas stoves that educate consumers about their exposure risks,
- Launch a public education campaign on the health risks of cooking with a gas stove, and steps that consumers can take to minimize their risk.
Senator Heinrich just announced $87,742,040 that will be available to the State of New Mexico and Tribes in the state from the Inflation Reduction Act for consumer home energy rebate programs, enabling communities to make homes more energy efficient, upgrade electric appliances, and cut energy costs. The new rebate program for electric appliances like induction stovetops was established by Senator Heinrich, mirroring legislation he introduced, the Zero-Emission Homes Act, to provide upfront, point-of-sale rebates for the purchase and installation of electric appliances and equipment in single-family homes and multifamily buildings, with additional support for low- and moderate- income households.
Senator Heinrich recently went live on Instagram with Jonathan Scott, co-host of the HGTV show Property Brothers, to talk about induction technology—how it’s quicker, safer, more efficient, and allows everyday Americans to have climate saving solutions directly in their homes.
The letter to CPSC was led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), and in addition to Senator Heinrich was signed by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alan S. Lowenthal (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Gwen S. Moore (D-WI), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), and Katie Porter (D-CA).
The full text of the letter to CPSC can be viewed here.
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