Gas Stoves: Health and Air Quality Impacts and Solutions

By Brady Seals & Andee Krasner

Gas stoves are likely exposing tens of millions of people to levels of indoor air pollution that would be illegal under outdoor air quality standards. Due to a lack of regulations, this problem is largely going undetected, making people more susceptible to respiratory health risks. That’s the finding of a new report released from Rocky Mountain Institute, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Mothers Out Front, and the Sierra Club.
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The report, Health Effects from Gas Stove Pollution, summarizes two decades of health research, and finds that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside, due in part to nitrogen dioxide emissions and other pollutants coming from gas stoves.

The report’s key findings include:

• Gas stoves release several hazardous pollutants, notably nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.
• Homes with gas stoves have nitrogen dioxide concentrations 50 – 400% higher than homes with electric stoves. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, even in the short term and at low levels, can cause respiratory effects.
• Children are at increased risk from illnesses associated with gas stove pollution: living in a home with a gas stove increases their risk of having asthma by 42%.
• Lower-income households may be at higher risk of exposure to gas stove pollution.
• Ventilation is important to managing the immediate risk posed by gas stove pollution, the report finds that it cannot be relied upon as the sole mitigation strategy.