In the United States, 38% of households rely on gas stoves. Gas-fueled appliances have a devoted following, and chefs and serious cooks have long proven their superiority over electric stoves.
However, the safety of gas stoves has been questioned. This equipment emits pollutants that are harmful to human health and the environment. In fact, the more scientists understand these contaminants, the more they become concerned about gas stoves.
“You would never stand on the tailpipe of your car and willingly inhale exhaust fumes, but that’s because we (using gas stoves) It’s the same thing I do every day.”
The combustion of natural gas or propane, which provides heat in gas stoves, produces a variety of pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and benzene. Studies have shown that gas stoves not only emit these chemicals when they’re on, but they also leak pollutants when they’re off.
health risks
Nitrogen dioxide is a particularly harmful substance emitted by gas stoves, but its effects have only become clearer in the last decade. This gas irritates the respiratory tract and worsens lung conditions such as asthma. A World Health Organization analysis found that children in homes with gas stoves had a 13% increased risk of asthma, while other analyzes found the risk was as much as 42% higher.
In 2021, WHO lowered its recommended exposure by 75% based on a better understanding of the health effects of nitrogen dioxide. And both the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association say gas stoves increase air pollution and are linked to childhood asthma.
Benzene, another compound emitted by gas stoves, is a known carcinogen that is also found in second-hand smoke. A 2022 study found that gas stoves emit benzine even when not in use. There is no data measuring cancer rates in people living with gas stoves, but in 2019 the WHO said there is no safe level of exposure to benzene.
Carbon monoxide also poses a danger to gas stove users. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a more familiar risk, but it usually only occurs when a gas stove malfunctions. Low levels of carbon monoxide emitted by a properly operating gas stove can also have health effects. The EPA reports that homes with properly functioning gas stoves have 3 to 10 times more carbon monoxide in the air. Also, in houses where the stove is poorly ventilated, it can be even more.
This low dose of carbon monoxide (levels that are elevated but not enough to trigger a carbon monoxide alarm or cause carbon monoxide poisoning) can worsen cardiovascular disease in vulnerable populations. There is research showing that.
Environmental impact
But gas stoves are not the only risk to human health. “Methane is leaking from gas stoves into people’s homes even when[the stoves]are off,” said Dr. Eric Revell, a senior fellow at PSE Health Energy, a scientific nonprofit focused on energy policy. said, referring to a 2022 study that took measurements indoors. Methane leak from gas stove. Methane is “a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide,” he said.
“Small leaks like that are important because methane is very powerful,” Rubel said. “And that’s not just from your gas appliances, but also transporting that gas to your home. That’s also part of the climate impact of burning gas in your home.”
Gas stoves produce more emissions than electric stoves, especially when you factor in leaks, Jackson said. In some states where the electricity grid runs on coal, electric stoves are not environmentally safe. But as energy becomes cleaner, and in states that are already prioritizing clean energy, electric stoves will be much better for the environment, he said.
How to reduce risk
The health and environmental risks of gas stoves are significant, but gas stove users have options to reduce the risks. The best one will depend on your budget.
“If you’re lucky enough to have the money,” Jackson says, the best option is to replace your gas stove, even if it’s at the end of its lifespan. The problem is that migration is expensive. But research shows it can have a big impact.
From 2015 to 2021, Ecuador’s national program replaced gas stoves with induction stoves in 10% of Ecuadorian households. In a 2023 analysis, researchers reported that large exchanges increased electricity use by 5%, but reduced greenhouse gases because 80% of the country’s power grid is hydroelectric. Interestingly, the researchers also found that with the increase in induction stoves, total hospitalizations and respiratory-related hospitalizations decreased.
If you can’t replace your stove, you’ll need to make sure your stove is properly vented. “When the oven is on, even if it’s just boiling water, the ventilation is on,” says Rubel.
Jackson says hood vents can’t remove contaminants, but external vents can remove 30 to 50 percent of the contaminants. However, many inexpensive vents are not actually connected to the outdoors. These vents simply recirculate or dilute contaminants. While that may be safer for people who cook quickly, it spreads those contaminants throughout the home, Jackson said.
Switching to outdoor ventilation is ideal, but also costly. If you don’t have the funds for this renovation, Rubel says you can improve ventilation by simply opening windows when cooking. This allows some of the contaminants that are recirculated through the vent to be expelled to the outside. You can also reduce pollutants from your gas stove by using an air purifier. Be sure to choose one that traps particulate matter. And finally, prioritize other cooking methods such as microwave ovens, air fryers, electric kettles, and induction cooktops to reduce indoor pollution.
Gas stoves come with real health and environmental risks. But the good news is that “there are things we can do to reduce health exposures and climate impacts,” Rubel said.
