Ocasio-cortez criticised over health claims about gas ovens

THE youngest woman ever to serve in the US Congress yesterday claimed gas stoves could cause brain damage, as she defended a potential government ban on the appliances.

Alexandria Ocasio-cortez, a progressive Democrat, tweeted the claim in response to a post from Ronny Jackson, a Republican representative for Texas, who vowed to “never give up” his gas stove should the Biden administration try to enforce such a ban.

“Did you know that ongoing exposure to NO2 from gas stoves is linked to reduced cognitive performance,” tweeted Ms Ocasio-cortez, whose constituency covers parts of the New York boroughs of the Bronx and Queens.

The 33-year-old attached an article from the Vox News website which shared a 2009 study concluding that “early-life exposure to air pollution from indoor gas appliances may be negatively associated with neuropsychological development through the first four years of life”.

Many Republicans attacked the government on Twitter for contemplating restrictions on gas stoves. “Unelected bureaucrats should not have the type of power to even consider such an action,” wrote Gary Palmer, representative for Alabama.

“It is time to rein in the Biden administration and their continual desire to control Americans’ lives and decisions.”

Nick Freitas, delegate for Virginia, said: “Did you know that it’s a lot harder for the government to arbitrarily cut off your access to power if you’re using gas as opposed to electric? Or is that really the point?”

Some critics accused supporters of the ban of being hypocritical as one posted a picture of Ms Ocasio-cortez in her kitchen, which appeared to be fitted with a gas stove. Others posted an image of Mr Biden’s wife, Jill, cooking spinach on a gas cooker.