An American study shows that the use of gas cookers involves health risks, which has sparked the debate about the use of this type of appliance.
• Also read: Asthma studies spark controversy over gas cooking
The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, shows that gas stoves are responsible for one in eight cases of childhood asthma in the United States.
The leader of Greenpeace’s climate-energy campaign believes that gas stoves should be warned of so that customers are informed about the risks when making purchasing decisions.
“Energy distributors should also inform customers, as well as government and local authorities, this is a public health issue,” he said. Most people don’t know how to use it properly to reduce risk. That is very important to us.”
While the alternative of electric stoves is obvious for homes, it’s less so for the hospitality industry, according to Quebec Restoration Association vice president of public affairs Martin Vézina.
“Industrial cooking appliances tend to run on gas or propane when it comes to more professional appliances,” he says. It’s much rarer to see ones that run on electricity, even if they do exist.”
However, Mr. Vézina claims that kitchen ventilation in restaurants is better than in apartments.
“Very powerful ventilation is used to remove the fumes and make sure they don’t get into the dining room,” he says.
In Quebec, 205,000 people are Énergir customers, but it’s impossible to know how many of them use gas stoves.
On the United States side, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis reiterated that he will fight to ensure that his fellow citizens can continue to use these types of devices.
“When we say leave us alone, we mean it, and that includes gas stoves,” he said in a video posted to Twitter. They will not take our gas stoves!”