A commissioner for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is proposing to ban gas stoves, calling them a «hidden danger.»

In an interview with Bloomberg NewsRichard Trumka Jr. said all options would be on the table to regulate home appliances, which have been shown to be harmful to both human health and the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

«Products that cannot be made safe can be banned,» Trumka said, adding that the commission could also consider imposing new emissions standards on household appliances. Trumka is one of several CPSC commissioners.

trumka later clarified in a tweet that the new regulations would only apply to new appliances.

«To be clear, CPSC is not coming for anyone’s gas stoves. The regulations apply to new products,» he said, adding that the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act includes an $840 rebate to replace equipment such as gas stoves.

In a statement, a CPSC spokesman said there was no official proposal on the matter yet and that any action to regulate appliances would be a «long process.»

«Agency staff plan to begin collecting 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 continue to work with voluntary standards organizations to examine emissions from gas stoves and address potential hazards.»

It is estimated that 40% of American households still rely on gas stoves. Although some chefs prefer them, they can emit dangerous levels of compounds like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and methane, especially in poorly ventilated areas or if stoves aren’t properly maintained. a recent study estimated that up to 1 in 8 cases of childhood asthma in the United States can be attributed to the presence of a gas stove in the home.

In a December letter to the CPSCSeveral US senators and representatives urged him to take action on damage from gas stoves, which they noted disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.

«We ask the CPSC to explicitly assess the disparate health outcomes that result from coupling gas stoves with the material realities to which the most vulnerable Americans are subjected, as well as to assess the health impacts of gas leaks due to to the connections of the gas stoves». they wrote.

In a statement, the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association said a ban would be inadvisable.

“A ban on gas cooking appliances would eliminate an affordable and preferred technology used in more than 40% of homes across the country,” he said. cooking, regardless of the heat source, generate air pollutants, especially at high temperatures. Focusing on increased use of ventilation is an effective solution to improve indoor air quality while cooking.”