A recent investigation into air pollution within American households has demonstrated the significant increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide due to the use of gas and propane stoves. This pollutant has been linked to childhood asthma, and even in bedrooms located far from the kitchen, levels regularly surpass the recommended health limits while stoves are in use and for several hours after they have been turned off. The study found that households utilizing gas or propane stoves are consistently exposed to unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide. The lead researcher expressed surprise at the rapid breach of health benchmarks within just an hour of using a gas stove.e, and lingering in the air for extended periods after the stove is turned off,” explained Professor Rob Jackson of Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. According to the May 3rd study in Science Advances, pollution from gas and propane stoves isn’t just a concern for those cooking or in the kitchen. It affects the entire family,” he stated. In addition to other adverse health impacts, prolonged inhalation of high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can exacerbate asthma attacks and has been associated with reduced lung development in children and premature deaths. While most exposure to NO2 is due to vehicles burning fossil fuel. According to the researchers, the combination of pollutants from gas and propane stoves could be responsible for up to 200,000 cases of childhood asthma. A quarter of these cases can be linked to nitrogen dioxide alone, as stated by the authors of the paper. The authors include scientists from Central California Asthma Collaborative, PSE Healthy Energy, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Lead study author Yannai mentioned, “We discovered that the amount of gas burned in your stove is the most significant factor in determining your level of exposure. Additionally, the use of an effective range hood and regular usage of it are also important factors to consider.”Kashtan, a PhD student in Earth system science, has found that there is little room for additional exposure to NO2. Beyond cases of asthma, the long-term exposure to NO2 in American households with gas stoves is at a level that could cause thousands of deaths each year, possibly as many as 19,000 or 40% of the number of deaths linked annually to secondhand smoke. This estimate is based on the researchers’ new measurements and calculations of how much nitrogen dioxide people breathe at home because of gas stoves and the best available data on deaths from long-term exposure to outdoor NO2, which is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency estimated the death toll from nitrogen dioxide exposure. The estimate may not be accurate as it does not consider the harmful effects of repeated exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves in homes. It also relies on past studies of health impacts from outdoor nitrogen dioxide exposure, which may have additional pollutants present from vehicles and power plants.
The researchers measured NO2 concentrations in over 100 homes of different sizes, layouts, and ventilation methods using sensors. They conducted the measurements before, during, and after stove use.They used these measurements and other information in a model powered by National Institutes for Standards and Technology (NIST) software called CONTAM to simulate airflow, contaminant transport, and occupant exposure in buildings on a room-by-room basis. This allowed them to estimate nationwide averages and short-term exposures under a variety of realistic conditions and behaviors and to compare the model outputs with their own home measurements.
The findings indicate that at a national level, typical use of a gas or propane stove increases nitrogen dioxide exposure by an estimated 4 parts per billion on average over a year. This is three quarters of the standard for outdoor air quality set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The study by Jackson’s group at Stanford is the newest in a series examining indoor air pollution from gas stoves. Previous research has shown the rate at which gas stoves release pollutants such as methane and benzene. This study focuses on the impact of stove emissions on health. The researchers found that cooking for just one hour on a gas stove can generate nitrogen dioxide levels that are three quarters of the way to the outdoor air exposure level considered unsafe by the World Health Organization. This level does not even include other outdoor sources, increasing the likelihood of exceeding the limit. Kashtan noted that this information is important for understanding how gas stoves affect health.In order to better understand the impact of pollutants on human health, scientists conducted a study to determine how these pollutants move throughout a home, accumulate, and eventually disperse. According to Jackson, a professor in Earth System Science, the focus has shifted from measuring the amount of pollution emitted by stoves to how much pollution people actually breathe. The research found that particle pollution can be generated from cooking food in a hot pan regardless of the fuel source. However, it was confirmed that little to no nitrogen dioxide is emitted by food during the cooking process, and electric stoves do not produce any NO2. Jackson emphasized that it is the fuel source, not the food itself, that contributes to the emission of nitrogen dioxide, with electric stoves emitting none.If you have a gas or propane stove, it’s important to minimize your exposure to pollutants like nitrogen dioxide or benzene by using ventilation. The size of your home also plays a role in the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, with smaller homes experiencing higher levels of exposure compared to larger homes. Even with a range hood venting air outdoors, concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can spike to unhealthy levels during and after cooking in larger homes. In homes smaller than 800 square feet, residents are exposed to twice as much nitrogen dioxide compared to the national average, and four times more compared to those living in the largest homes.communities, often minorities, tend to live in smaller homes, while those in wealthier communities live in larger homes, often exceeding 3,000 square feet. This difference in home size results in variations in exposure to NO2 across different racial, ethnic, and income groups. The study revealed that compared to the national average, American Indian and Alaska Native households have a 60% higher long-term exposure to NO2, while Black and Hispanic or Latino households have a 20% higher exposure. Additionally, indoor air pollution from gas stoves adds to this exposure, further exacerbating the issue for these communities who already face higher exposure to outdoor sources of nitrogen dioxide pollution, such as vehicle exhaust.communities may not always have the financial means to replace their appliances, or they may be renting and unable to switch out appliances because they do not own them,” Jackson explained. “Individuals living in smaller homes are also exposed to more pollution from the same stove usage.”
This study received funding from HT, LLC.
