By Jonathan Levy -
The Conversation
Foodies always yearn to have the latest utensils or tools, from automatic thermometers to slow cookers.
Now interest is growing in magnetic induction stoves, faster than traditional ones and that do not require lighting a flame or heating an electric coil.
Although the attention comes late – in Europe and Asia magnetic induction cookers are already popular for saving more energy – it coincides with recent studies that have raised concerns about emissions from gas stoves.
Academics and agencies like the California Air Resources Board have warned that these release dangerous air pollutants when they are turned on, and even if they are turned off.
Cooking with a gas stove is still dangerous even in well-ventilated homes.Floriana/Getty Images
As an environmental health researcher who studies the air in houses and interiors, I have participated in analyzes to measure pollution in homes and propose models to predict the impact of each source, depending on the type of construction.
Here are some facts about how gas stoves pollute the air in your home and whether or not you should stop using them.
respiratory damage
One of the main air pollutants associated with gas stoves is nitrogen dioxide, or NO₂—a byproduct of gasoline combustion.
Exposure to this chemical compound
has been linked to
severe cases of asthma
and
increased use of inhalers
in children
.
It also affects asthmatic adults and contributes to the development and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In houses, nitrogen dioxide can infiltrate both from the outside air and from internal sources.
Vehicle traffic is the most important external source
and levels are highest near major highways.
Gas stoves are the most important indoor source, especially if there are large burners running for a long time.
A dog causes a fire in a house after accidentally lighting the stove.
So you can prevent it
June 16, 202202:01
The gas industry maintains that stoves are a minimal source of pollution.
It is true for some homes, taking into account the average exposure over months or years, but there are others where they contribute more than external sources, especially when there are short-term peaks in exposure.
A study in Southern California showed that for indoor emissions, nearly half of homes exceed a health standard based on the highest hour of nitrogen dioxide concentration.
How can a stove pollute more than a highway full of vehicles?
Outdoor pollution is dispersed over a large area, while indoor pollution is concentrated in a small space.
[The Inflation Reduction Act will help the environment but will be “insignificant” in lowering inflation]
The structure of the home also plays a role, and exposure to NO₂ is higher for some people than for others.
Those who live in large houses, better ventilated or with air extractors, will be less exposed than those who live in small places with poor ventilation.
If kitchen air is not mixed with clean air, it can become contaminated regardless of the size of the home.
That's why using an exhaust fan or other ventilation strategies, such as opening windows, can dramatically reduce concentrations.
Methane and other dangerous air pollutants
Nitrogen dioxide is not the only dangerous compound in gas stoves.
Another part of the pollution, with effects on people's health and the planet's climate,
occurs when kitchens are not even on.
A 2022 study estimated that unused gas stoves in the United States emit methane — a colorless, odorless gas that is the main component of natural gas — at a level that traps as much heat in the atmosphere as about 400,000 cars.
The Inflation Reduction Act will help the environment but will be "insignificant" in lowering inflation
Aug. 8, 202202:00
Some leaks go unnoticed,
although odor is added to natural gas to make sure people notice them before there is a risk of explosion, it may not be strong enough to be noticed when they are very small.
Also, certain people have a stronger sense of smell than others.
In particular, those who have lost it—whether due to COVID-19 or other causes—might not detect them.
A recent study found that 5% of homes had leaks that the owners had not identified and that were significant enough to require repairs.
That investigation showed that
several dangerous air pollutants
were present in these natural gas leaks
, including benzene, a carcinogenic substance.
Although its concentration did not reach levels of health concern, its presence in the air could be problematic in homes with significant leaks and poor ventilation.
health and climate
If there is a gas stove in your house, what should you do and when should you worry?
First improve ventilation.
You can use an exhaust fan and open windows while cooking.
This will help, but it won't eliminate exposure, especially for those in the space.
Gas stoves, even when not in use, emit methane. Seiya Tabuchi / Getty Images/iStockphoto
If you live in a small place, with a closed kitchen, or if someone in your family has asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
it can still be dangerous even with good ventilation
.
Switching from a gas cooktop to one that uses magnetic induction would eliminate this exposure, while helping the environment.
There are incentive programs to support you.
The Reduce Inflation Act of 2022, which includes several provisions to address this issue,
provides
rebates for the purchase of high-efficiency electrical appliances
, such as stoves
.
Dozens of cities in the United States have adopted or are studying regulations that, after certain dates, prohibit natural gas connections in new homes, to accelerate the disuse of fossil fuels.
At least 20 states have passed laws or regulations along these lines.
[What are the Tylenol murders? New evidence may solve a case that changed drug shopping forever]
Saying goodbye to gas stoves is important if you're investing in energy efficiency changes in your home, whether it's to take advantage of incentives, lower costs or reduce your carbon footprint.
Some air conditioning measures reduce air leaks to the outside and if the ventilation of the kitchen is not also improved, it can increase the concentrations of internal contamination.
Even if you don't want to decrease your carbon footprint and are just looking to cook pasta faster, the opportunity for cleaner indoor air can be a strong motivator to make the switch.
If you want to receive our articles from T Verifica or send us topics about which you have doubts so that we can verify them, contact us via WhatsApp
by clicking on this link
.
