Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently joined a group of state attorneys general to request the federal government conduct an investigation into the potential health risks posed by gas stoves. Recent studies have linked the use of gas stoves without proper ventilation to serious health issues, including childhood asthma. One study found that 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases in the US are linked to indoor air pollution from gas stoves.
The Minnesota Gas Stove Lawyers at Goldenberg Lauricella are currently investigating the connection between gas stoves and childhood asthma. If your child has been diagnosed with asthma after prolonged exposure to a gas stove, contact us today for a free gas stove lawsuit consultation.
Government Has Known of Risks For Years
The letter, signed by 10 attorneys general, requests the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) bolster its public education efforts and enact stronger ventilation requirements in homes with gas stoves. Ellison noted in an e-mail to the Star Tribune that the federal government has known about the risks of indoor air pollution from gas stoves for years. “Since then, even more research has shown that gas stoves pose risks to indoor air quality and public health — particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, where they’re more commonly found in housing,” Ellison wrote.
The US does not have any regulations regarding indoor air pollution or venting gas stoves. Studies have shown the amount of pollution generated by gas stoves would be considered dangerous if measured outside. As the Star Tribune notes, gas appliances such as water heaters, dryers, and furnaces are required to vent emissions outside. Most gas stoves do not have the capability of venting gas emissions and therefore require the costly installation of vent hoods. Gas stoves are considered most hazardous when used in small spaces with poor ventilation, such as studio and 1 bedroom apartments.
High Levels Of NO2 Created By Gas Stoves
When gas stoves are turned on, methane is burned and creates nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as a byproduct. NO2 is a pollutant made of nitrogen and oxygen and is part of a group of gases known as nitrogen oxides. NO2 is generated by the burning of fuels, and when mixed with other contaminants it can form the dangerous pollutant ozone.
If not properly vented, NO2 from gas stoves can accumulate in significant quantities and prolonged exposure can lead to serious health issues. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that short term exposure to NO2 can worsen existing respiratory issues, and long term exposure to NO2 can lead to the development of serious respiratory issues such as asthma.
Minnesota Gas Stove Attorneys
The Minnesota Injury Attorneys at Goldenberg Lauricella have been at the forefront of products liability litigation for over 37 years. We have represented thousands of clients injured by defective products manufactured by some of the largest companies in the world. There is still much we don’t know about the safety of using gas stoves without proper ventilation. However, the data we do have indicates gas stoves can generate a dangerous amount of NO2 in kitchens with poor ventilation. Sadly, the gas stove industry has known about safer alternative designs for nearly 40 years and failed to modify its products or warn the public about the risk of unvented stoves.
If your child has been diagnosed with asthma after prolonged exposure to a gas stove, contact our Minnesota Gas Stove Attorneys today at 1-800-903-1643 for a free consultation. Leave the sleepless nights to us.