Buzz
I've always cooked with gas ranges. Growing up in a house with a gas stove, and still having one in my current home, I can’t forget the electric-only apartments I lived in during my younger years—an experience I disliked deeply. I could go on and on about it. Recently, however, there's been growing evidence showing that gas stoves and ovens might cause enough indoor air pollution to potentially worsen asthma in children.
This caught my attention because I own a gas stove and also have asthma, as do several of my family members. It could be just a coincidence—after all, about 8% of the U.S. population suffers from asthma, and one-third of households use gas stoves. Yet, studies indicate that gas stoves could contribute to asthma flare-ups. Vox has an in-depth analysis of the evidence, which is highly recommended if you're worried about this issue.
Understanding this evidence is complicated. Asthma severity tends to be worse in homes with higher nitrogen dioxide levels, and gas stoves are a significant source of this pollutant. However, asthma is also more prevalent in children from lower-income families, who often live in areas with higher outdoor air pollution. It’s also important to consider that access to healthcare and asthma medication can vary with income. Studies like this one suggest that when these factors are accounted for, the impact of nitrogen dioxide on asthma seems much less significant.
The debate has shifted from whether gas stoves are harmful to how harmful they really are for our health. If you're in the process of building or purchasing a house and want to prioritize your health, opting for an electric or induction stove would be a wise decision. While electric stoves aren’t perfect, they’re manageable once you get used to them. Induction cooktops, though pricey, are widely praised for their cooking performance. These stoves work by generating heat in the cookware itself—such as cast iron or stainless steel—rather than heating the cooktop directly.
What actions should you take if you own a gas stove?
To lower indoor pollution from gas stoves, it's essential to focus on proper ventilation. Interestingly, although gas dryers and furnaces must vent outdoors, gas stoves often don’t have the same requirement.
Start by determining whether your range hood vents to the outside. A high-quality range hood will have a vent that directs air through a wall or chimney, while a subpar one will simply recirculate the air, drawing it from the stovetop and blowing it right back over your head.
If you have a functional range hood, you can enhance its efficiency by cooking on the back burners and setting the fan to its highest speed when using the front burners, cooking with multiple burners, or frying anything.
If your range hood is a recirculating model, consider enhancing your kitchen's ventilation in another way if possible. One simple option is to open a window when the weather permits. Alternatively, you can install an exhaust fan directly into an exterior wall, which helps ventilate the kitchen while cooking. If your kitchen is near a bathroom, turning on the bathroom fan may provide some extra airflow as well.
Range hoods and fans can be quite loud, which can be bothersome. If you’re aiming to update your kitchen without replacing your stove, it might be a good idea to look into a quieter range hood or one that moves more air. This will help remove pollutants more effectively and encourage more frequent use.
It’s essential to keep in mind that while gas stoves tend to produce more indoor air pollution, cooking in general generates particulates and releases volatile compounds into the air. Therefore, ensuring proper ventilation is a smart choice, regardless of the type of stove you have.
