Is it true that 'gas stoves are bad for your health'?
With the spread of all-electric appliances, in recent years, electric stoves that cook with electric heaters and IH cooking heaters that do not get hot have become popular in kitchens, but gas stoves that burn gas are also strongly supported by people who are particular about heat power. Air pollution and living environment experts discussed the health effects of such gas stoves.
Is your gas stove bad for your health?
According to Professor Jonathan Levy, Dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, a typical contaminant associated with the use of gas stoves is nitrogen dioxide , which is produced when the gas is burned. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide in the home has been found to be associated with more severe childhood asthma and increased use of inhaled medications, as well as effects on adult asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. has also been found to contribute to both the development and exacerbation of
Gas cookers may be causing asthma in children - GIGAZINE
Of course, gas stoves are not the only source of nitrogen dioxide. Since the exhaust gas of automobiles also contains nitrogen dioxide, it is said that people who live closer to the main road are more likely to suffer from health hazards due to nitrogen dioxide. However, a study conducted in Southern California found that `` in about half of the homes, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide exceeded the standard for health, and most of the causes were indoors. ``In many cases, gas stoves are a major source of indoor pollutants,'' says Levy.
A single gas stove has a greater impact than a highway full of heavy trucks because nitrogen dioxide generated outdoors spreads over a wide area, while indoor air pollution concentrates in a small area. Therefore, the health effects of gas stoves are greatly influenced by the structure of the house. Specifically, households that use range hoods that exhaust air to the outside, and people who live in large, well-ventilated homes, are less adversely affected than those who live in smaller homes.
In this regard, Levy says, ``Even large homes can be affected by the use of a gas stove because the air in the kitchen is less likely to mix with the fresh air in other rooms. Ventilation measures such as opening windows and using range hoods can dramatically reduce pollutant concentrations.'
Nitrogen dioxide isn't the only harmful pollutant produced by gas stoves. In fact, pollutants may continue to be released even while the gas stove is not in use. A 2022 study looking at pollutants from residential heat sources found that gas stoves used in American homes emit methane gas even when not in use, and their global warming impact is about 40% less than that of a car. It was said that it was the same level as confining the heat of 10,000 units in the atmosphere.
Gas leaks are not only harmful to health, but also pose a risk of fire, so gas is given an odor. However, a study investigating gas leaks of natural gas for home use found that about 5% of homes had gas leaks that were not noticed by residents, especially in recent years due to the new coronavirus infection. It is expected that the number of people who have problems with the sense of smell due to aftereffects will increase, so concerns about gas leaks are increasing.
Therefore, Professor Levy advises households with gas stoves to switch to induction cookers such as IH cooking heaters. Because these cookware are also energy efficient, they can reduce not only health hazards but also climate change impacts. In addition, Professor Levy recommended that if you do not switch from the gas stove, you should thoroughly ventilate as described above.
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