The recent research carried out by the Stanford University revealed a worrying source of pollution in our own homes: gas and propane stoves. According to findings published in the journal Science Advancesthese appliances are responsible for emitting dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas that can have serious repercussions on respiratory health.
This research, led by environmental scientist Robert Jackson and the postgraduate researcher Yannai Kashtanwarns about the silent but harmful impact that the daily use of these stoves can have on the air quality in our homes.
The study highlights, in Jackson’s words, that “the poor breathe dirty air outdoors, and if they have a gas stove, also indoors.” This situation not only demonstrates an environmental problem, but also a clear social inequality in terms of exposure to toxic pollutants.
He Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)produced when the gas burns at high temperatures in stoves, can inflame the airways, reduce lung function and exacerbate conditions such as coughs and asthma, according to the American Lung Association.
The research used sensors in more than 100 homes, of various sizes and in seven different cities, to measure the levels of NO2 generated by the use of these stoves. The results showed that these emissions can cause NO2 concentrations in the home to exceed health standards in a matter of hours, affecting not only the kitchen but also the most distant rooms.
One of the solutions proposals is the use of effective extractor hoods, which, according to Kashtan, can reduce NO2 levels by between 10% and 70%. However, the study also points out that not all campaigns are equally effectiveespecially those that recirculate air instead of expelling it outside.
Furthermore, a worrying gap is revealed socioeconomicin which lower-income people and Native American, Alaska Native, Spanish-speaking, and African-American communities face the highest risk of exposure because they tend to live in smaller households and in communities with dirtier air.
Robert Jackson highlighted that gas stoves consume, on average, “three quarters of their allocation limit” of the safe level of NO2 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), even before considering exposure to ambient NO2 from other sources. Further complicating the situation is that many renters have few options to replace their gas stoves with safer alternatives.
This research emphasizes the importance of adopting alternative measuressuch as portable electric stoves Or simply open the windows while cookingto mitigate exposure to NO2. “The risk is cumulative and long term”warns Kashtan, emphasizing that although individual solutions may seem minor, they are concrete steps toward reducing exposure to this dangerous pollutant.
It is essential to promote education and awareness about the risks associated with the use of gas and propane stoves. This can be achieved through information campaigns that highlight not only the dangers to the health but also practical and accessible alternatives to minimize exposure.
The collaboration with manufacturers to design different safer and more efficient deviceswhich can effectively filter and ventilate contaminants before they reach harmful levels inside homes, is another measure that could be considered to avoid danger in gas cooking.
