Gas Stoves Emit a Pollutant Linked to Childhood Asthma

Millions of households with gas stoves are exposed to high levels of NO2 that worsen childhood asthma and contribute to adult respiratory condition.

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A study published in Science Advances (SA) in May found that households with gas or propane stoves have unhealthy levels of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which can intensify asthma attacks. The concentrations may extend to distant bedrooms and linger for hours even after turning off the stove.

“I didn’t expect to see pollutant concentrations breach health benchmarks in bedrooms within an hour of gas stove use, and stay there for hours after the stove is turned off,” senior author Rob Jackson, a professor at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability said in a press release. “Pollution from gas and propane stoves isn’t just an issue for cooks or people in the kitchen. It’s the whole family’s problem.”

Exposure Is Cause for Concern

The level of exposure appears quite significant and a cause for concern, according to the SA study authors. “Short-term NO2 exposure from typical gas stove use frequently exceeds both World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] benchmarks,” they said.