Opinion: Gas stoves emit greenhouse gases, can contribute to asthma, heart disease, cancer

There is strong scientific evidence that cooking with natural gas contributes to indoor air pollution and health problems. About 35% of American homes cook with gas and a half-million Americans become ill from breathing gas stove emissions. Gas stoves also produce greenhouse gases that create the ‘greenhouse effect,’ which is the main driver of global warming and climate change.

Gas stoves are more frequently found in dwellings of the poor and vulnerable, making this an issue of environmental injustice. Electric stoves produce fewer contaminants. There are no U.S. standards for indoor air quality and cookstoves. Choosing a course of action based on scientific evidence will promote health and environmental justice.

Gas stove emissions (nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and fine particulate matter) contribute to indoor air pollution and health problems including heart disease, respiratory illness and cancer. Poorly maintained gas stoves, inadequate ventilation, or small rooms result in higher indoor emission concentrations.

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Ventilation systems can reduce emissions and lessen health impacts. However, a California survey found that exhaust fans are only used about one-third of the time when cooking. Pollutant capture efficiency is low for cooking on the front and oven burners because most exhaust hoods are located over the rear burners.

Gas appliances account for 13% of America’s GHG emissions. Natural gas is mostly methane, a GHG. Gas stoves leak 2.6 million tons of methane a year, equal to the annual GHG emissions of one-half million cars. Burning natural gas (a fossil fuel) produces carbon dioxide, a GHG.

People from low resource households and vulnerable groups are more likely to have gas stoves. They are at higher risk for health problems. Children are more susceptible to asthma from gas stoves because of higher breathing rate, developing lungs, smaller body size and the large amount time spent indoors. Childhood asthma is a leading cause of emergency department visits, hospitalizations and missed school days.

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Regular evaluation and maintenance of gas stoves and ventilation systems can reduce emissions. A ventilation system must always be on when cooking, have sufficient capture capacity, vent emissions outside, and have the exhaust hood above all burners. The rear burners should be used first when the ventilator hood is not located over the front burners. Gas burners require periodic adjustment to reduce the amount of combustion products. New types of electric stoves have been shown to cook as well as gas and be cost competitive.

Conversion to electric stoves has drawn strong criticism from the restaurant industry, becoming a barrier to having safe indoor air and protecting workers’ health. Chefs and restaurant owners feel that flame-seared meats, charred vegetables, and food prepared in a wok taste better when cooked with gas. Restaurants should be able to continue to cook with gas if they institute adaptive interventions.

The cost of converting to electric stoves is another barrier. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 promotes a transition from fossil-fuel burning appliances to cleaner technology like electricity. It offers tax credits, rebates and subsidies to cover the cost.

The federal government needs to develop environmental health policy to reduce gas stove pollution through an environmental justice lens. Federal agencies that protect Americans from exposure to environmental hazards include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The EPA has standards for outdoor air pollutants, but not for indoor air quality. The CPSC is an independent federal agency that develops safety standards, conducts research and makes products safer. OSHA’s mission is to protect workers by certifying safe and healthful working conditions. Groups that suffer from environmental injustice should be included in policy development.

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Education can raise awareness of the gas stove problem. Federal agencies and medical societies must alert health care providers and the public. Health care providers are trusted voices who educate and raise public awareness.

There is an immediate need to address the gas stove problems in order to protect public health. The economic benefits of reducing gas stove pollution can save health care costs, decrease days lost from work and school, and lessen time and productivity lost due to premature death. Improving the ventilation process and efficiency of gas combustion are adaptive interventions to be considered in lieu of converting to ‘cleaner’ electric stoves. A call to action includes developing an environmental health policy through an environmental justice lens and raising awareness through education.

Richard Needleman, MD, MPH, is a retired orthopedic surgeon and member of Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health, and Equity.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Opinion: Cooking with gas stoves can be hazardous to your health