Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Headlines appeared earlier this week that the Consumer Product Safety Commission may consider the banning of gas ranges due to potentially illicit respiratory health effects.
Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr., told Bloomberg that a ban was "on the table" for gas stoves, which research has linked to health problems including asthma.
Trumka is now walking back the notion of a ban in comments made to CBS News, saying, "I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so," he said. "CPSC is resarching gas emissions in stoves and exploring ways to address health risks."
There are also confusing reports about electric ranges too, with National Fire Protection Association reporting households that use electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires than those using gas ranges.
On gas appliances, new research links 13 percent of childhood asthma cases to the use of gas stoves.
Slow down, says Dr. James Hereth of Buffalo General Medical Center, who says he's seen factors other than gas stoves when it comes to an uptick in asthma. "We have not seen that association at this point, but I think this is something that's going to require a little bit more scrutiny and research," says Hereth.
Hereth believes there could be some factors to look into. "Are we talking about a gas stove that's been properly maintained? Are we talking about a gas(range) ... that's relatively old? Is it a modern gas highly efficient gas stove? So it seems, seems a little odd to be completely honest," notes Hereth.
On the flip side, the National Fire Protection Association is out with a study on electric ranges causing more cooking fires than gas ranges. "My concern would be that some of these electric stoves it may not be as obvious that the burner is on. So it could be possible that somebody may place something flammable on top of a cooktop (and) not aware that that that burner was was turned on," says Hereth. He emphasizes caution while using either type of range.
Which type of range is safer? Hereth believes the jury is out.
"I think we need to take a look at the risk of increase in childhood asthma, with the use of of gas appliances and gas stoves, and truly look at the data and make sure that that is a reality or not just because one study comes out doesn't necessarily mean that it's completely accurate," advises Hereth. He says be very careful where you get the information from and to do due diligence, look at the sources and to make sure that the conclusions drawn actually apply to the population.
