Can cooking on a gas stove cause health problems for you and your family? A new study from researchers at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability says there are potential dangers you need to be aware of.
The recent study highlighted the concerning levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in homes with gas or propane stoves. The researchers found that NO2 concentrations exceeded health standards after using the stove and remained for hours. This is a problem, the researchers said, because exposure to NO2 over time can make worse asthma attacks and has been linked to affecting lung development in children.
“The most surprising result was how far and fast pollution moves through homes,” Rob Jackson, study author and professor at Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability, told Yahoo Life. “The concentrations we measure on gas and propane stoves rise to dangerous levels within an hour of turning on the stove and remain there for hours after the stoves are turned off – not just in kitchens, but in the rooms down the hall where our children sleep.”
Some people may believe that the possible harm from cooking on a gas stove comes from heating food to high temperatures, leading to particulate pollution, which refers to small airborne particles that can be dangerous to health. However, Jackson’s research says that foods emit little or no nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during cooking – and electric stoves do not produce any NO2.
“Gas and propane stoves emit considerable nitrogen dioxide and benzene; electric stoves emit nothing,” he says. “Your choice of fuel – not the food you cook – determines how much pollution you breathe.”
Should you replace your gas stove?
Experts are confused about whether you should consider replacing your gas stove.
Dr., associate clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, told Yahoo Life that you should be concerned about having a gas stove in your home. “We now estimate that 12.7% of asthma cases in this country in childhood asthma cases are attributable to gas stoves,” she says. “That’s because when you burn fossil gas inside your home, it releases a lot of concerning things, like nitrogen dioxide, which is a known respiratory irritant.”
And it’s not just nitrogen dioxide that Patel says we should be concerned about: she also points to evidence that benzene, a known carcinogen, is still present at home hours after turning off the gas stove. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that prolonged exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia.
There is also a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning on gas stoves, which does not occur with electric or induction cooking appliances. “There are stories of families turning on their gas burners to stay warm, not realizing that carbon monoxide is being released at the same time and you can then suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Patel. “For all these reasons, it is important that we start making this transition to remove gas stoves from our homes.”
Michael Bisesi, vice dean of the Ohio State University College of Public Health, however, told Yahoo Life that he doesn’t believe it’s necessary to get rid of gas stoves, which would be a difficult transition. He says research done on gas stoves may come from improperly designed gas stoves, leading to leaks that release these types of dangerous emissions. Rather than getting rid of gas stoves, he suggests it’s more important to ensure ventilation is adequate in the home and that gas stove manufacturers design their appliances more efficiently.
“Whether you have a gas or electric stove, there is a great justification and need for indoor environments, especially kitchens, to have better ventilation,” he says. “For me, this has to be addressed simultaneously.”
What can you do if you don’t want to replace your gas stove?
If you have a gas stove, there are safety precautions you can take, in addition to replacing it entirely, to make it safer to have in your home. Dr.Laura Purdy, family medicine physician and chief medical officer at Swell Medical, told Yahoo Life to focus on fresh air. Purdy advises against keeping a gas stove on if you’re not actively using it for cooking, such as heating. “If you have an exhaust fan, go ahead and turn on the vent to help with airflow out of the house,” says Purdy. “You can also open windows and doors when in use to help with airflow, especially if you’re using a small space without much ventilation.”
While Emissions such as methane can still leak from your stove when it is turned off, you can avoid the worst by using countertop appliances (like a countertop convection oven) when appropriate. According to Jackson’s researchYou may also want to adjust how you cook food: More particle pollution comes from slow, slow cooking rather than cooking quickly over high heat.
