Congressman Kean urges retailers to halt nitrous oxide sales pending purchaser verification
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-7th District, is calling on companies that sell nitrous oxide to suspend retail sales until they can verify the product is being purchased for legitimate purposes.
Kean sent letters Wednesday to corporations that currently sell nitrous oxide, citing concerns about the growing misuse of the product and the risks it poses to public health, particularly among children and young people.
According to the congressman, recreational use of nitrous oxide can cause a range of serious health effects, including headaches, nausea, vomiting, agitation, depression, psychosis, fainting, hypoxia, heart attack, nerve damage, hypotension, memory loss, muscle spasms, numbness, birth defects, paralysis and death.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory in 2025 warning consumers not to inhale nitrous oxide because of the significant health risks associated with misuse.
“I have received letters and phone calls from several constituents across our district about the availability of nitrous oxide canisters at your stores or on your platforms,” said Congressman Kean. “The sale of nitrous oxide at your retailers presents a dangerous risk to the American public – especially children and young people.”
Kean also addressed the issue Wednesday during a hearing of the House Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee, where he discussed the dangers associated with recreational nitrous oxide use.
The congressman urged retailers to remove nitrous oxide products from sale until safeguards are in place to ensure they are being purchased only for lawful and intended purposes.
