Impact from Gas Stoves

Use of gas stoves produces a range of harmful pollutants, including Nitrogen Dioxide (NO), Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde, Methane, and Particulate Matter.

This leads to several health issues and detrimental impacts on the environment.

Impact to Health

• Homes with gas stoves can have nitrogen dioxide (a toxic gas) concentrations that are 50–400 percent higher than homes with electric stoves, a level that ishazardous. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently strengthened its assessment of nitrogen dioxide, finding a relationship between short term exposures and respiratory effects (mild illness including wheezing, cough, chest tightness | severe illness including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

  • Studies have also shown a link to cardiovascular issues, diabetes, cancer, and reproductive issues.

• Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and exposure to it is linked to lower respiratory functions.

• Particulate Matter can penetrate deeply into the lungs & bloodstream, and cause respiratory issues & lung infections.

• Research by UCLA Fielding School of Public Health found that gas stoves (even with exhaust hoods) can produce nitrogen oxide & carbon monoxide to levels that would violate EPA outdoor pollutant standards, leading to respiratory issues.

• Recent advanced research has also made the connection between poor indoor air quality and cognitive decline. In this research paper, Steffen Kunn summarized his findings as “we show that poor indoor air quality hampers cognitive performance significantly. We find that an increase in the indoor concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 10 μg/m3 increases a player's probability of making an erroneous move by 26.3%”.

• A 2013 meta-analysis of 41 studies found that children living in homes with gas stoves had a 42 % higher risk of experiencing asthma symptoms.

Impact to the Environment

• Combustion of natural gas in gas stoves lead to release of various gases (including carbon dioxide, methane) that lead to global warming

• Methane gas continuously Leakes from gas stoves, even when they are turned off. Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas (30X more heat trapping capability) than carbon dioxide, which leads to a significant contribution to the greenhouse effect.

• Transportation of natural gas often leads to contamination of ground and surface water since majority of the pipeline infrastructure is aging and poorly maintained (more than 300,000 miles of interstate and intrastate trans- mission pipelines, & 2.1 million miles of local distribution lines brings this gas to the market).

The effect of this is disproportionally felt by lower-income households. These households tend to have smaller homes, a high density of occupants, inadequate stove ventilation, older gas stoves, and leaking pipes. These are all factors that lead to higher exposure to toxic gases. In addition, they may be relying on their gas-powered ovens to heat their home (a common practice in the US if households have broken or inefficient heating systems).

The impact from this has been amplified due to COVID, as people have been spending more time indoors.