If you think staying inside protects you from exposure to air pollution, a new study led by Stanford University suggests you may want to take a closer look at your kitchen.
The researchers found that using gas and propane stoves could expose people to levels of indoor nitrogen dioxide that are similar to the total pollution from all outdoor sources.
Nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, is a pollutant linked to a higher risk of heart and lung disease, asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, premature birth, diabetes and lung cancer. While most Americans still get the majority of their NO2 exposure from outdoor sources such as vehicles, studies show that indoor risks are just as real.
one in Summary Rob Jackson, senior author of the study, says about the findings:
“We know outdoor air pollution harms our health, but we assume our indoor air is safer. Our research shows that if you use a gas stove, you’re often taking in as much nitrogen dioxide pollution indoors from your stove as you do from all outdoor sources combined.”
The research – published in a scientific journal of the National Academy of Sciences – combines indoor NO2 measurements with outdoor air data, building characteristics for 133 million homes and data on how people actually cook.
The results show that for about 22 million Americans – especially in rural areas and small homes – cooking with a gas stove is enough to increase their long-term NO2 exposure above recommended safety limits, even when outdoor air alone would not do so.
In large cities, where outdoor NO2 levels are already high and living spaces are often small, the overall risk may be even worse, with stove emissions increasing traffic pollution.
Additional research from the same team also found that gas stoves emit unsafe levels of NO2 that can persist for hours after use and that they release benzene, a carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood cancers.
The good news: A kitchen makeover can make a real difference.
On average, replacing a gas stove with an electric stove can reduce the risk by more than a quarter. This reduces the risk even further for frequent stove users – by about half.
However, if you can’t make the switch, researchers have other practical advice for reducing the risk.
When you cook, use the range hood and/or open a window, Harvard suggests. Also consider getting an air purifier, which can help with more than just NO2.
You can also use electrical appliances like kettles, toaster ovens and slow cookers in place of your stove. Portable induction cooktops can also provide a relatively low-cost way to reduce gas usage.
Stanford notes that state and local rebates, low- or no-interest loans, and federal tax credits and rebates can help offset the cost of replacing gas appliances if you’re interested in doing so.
This may be worth considering, as the Stanford research team isn’t the only group looking into the health risks of gas stoves; There is also the American government.
To learn more about the dangers of gas stoves, read our recent reporting in “Federal report highlights health hazards of gas stoves: 3 unique dangers they pose – and how to reduce them.”
