A study recently published in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that on average, about 13 percent of childhood asthma in the United States is attributable to gas stove use. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, California, and Illinois are all above the national average, with 21 percent of childhood asthma attributed to gas stove use in Illinois. Gas stoves emit pollutants such as methane, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. When released indoors, even in low concentrations, these toxic gases can worsen breathing problems for residents that already have asthma.
The use of gas stoves is harmful to the environment as well. Methane leaks occur throughout the entirety of the fuel production and supply chain that allows for the operation of gas stoves. Despite the risks to public health and the environment, more than one-third of U.S. households are currently cooking on a gas stove. Replacing a gas stove with a modern electric induction stove may not be an option due to the high cost of buying a new appliance. For households that are not able to replace their gas stoves immediately, there are still ways to minimize the effects of harmful pollutants. For example, good ventilation when cooking—by using the range hood fan and opening windows—can reduce indoor air pollution.
Elisabeth Seliga
Assistant Researcher
Nicole Yang
Communications Assistant
This is a part of the AEC Blog series