Recent News on Proposed Natural Gas Stove Bans: 3 Things to Know

Natural gas stoves have received negative publicity in recent media stories that have spread misinformation and confusion among consumers.

Here are the top three things you should know:

1. Natural gas stoves are safe to use for cooking with no documented health risks from regulatory and advisory agencies responsible for protecting residential consumer health and safety.

When operated properly, natural gas stoves are safe to use for cooking. Indoor air quality studies have found that emissions generated from cooking in general with any heat source – like steam, smoke, grease and heat – can contribute to indoor air quality.

Kitchen ventilation, regardless of heat source, helps reduce impacts to indoor air quality while cooking.

AGA Resource: Cooking with Gas: Indoor Air Quality and Residential Gas Ranges

2. Many claims about health risks of natural gas stoves are based on inconsistent studies.

There are no documented risks to respiratory health from natural gas stoves from the regulatory and advisory agencies and organizations responsible for protecting residential consumer health and safety.

Recent claims against the safety of natural gas stoves cite a December 2022 report in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health linking natural gas cooking with asthma. The study was funded by non-governmental, anti-fossil fuel organizations.

AGA Resource: AGA Statement on the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Report

3. The natural gas utility industry is fully committed to consumer safety and reducing emissions.

To promote the health and safety of 187 million consumers in America, natural gas utilities are actively reducing their emissions and the emissions of homeowners.

Emissions from natural gas distributions systems have declined 69% since 1990 with replacement of older lines and ONE Gas, the parent company of Oklahoma Natural Gas anticipates a 55% reduction in emissions due to leaks on pipelines by 2035.

AGA Resource: Natural Gas - American Gas Association (aga.org)

As concerns about emissions from gas ranges are raised and debated, the natural gas industry is focused on bringing objective data-driven analysis and technical information to the discussion.

We will continue to join the AGA to work with regulators and policymakers on a local, state and national level to help ensure they have sound data to work with as they approach any issues related to natural gas.

Want to learn more about natural gas appliance safety? Click here for helpful tips.

Written by: Leah Harper