{"id":220962,"date":"2023-01-13T13:09:57","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T18:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=220962"},"modified":"2023-01-13T13:10:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T18:10:20","slug":"are-gas-stoves-bad-for-your-health-heres-why-the-federal-government-is-considering-new-safety-regulations","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2023\/are-gas-stoves-bad-for-your-health-heres-why-the-federal-government-is-considering-new-safety-regulations\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Gas Stoves Bad for Your Health? Here\u2019s Why the Federal Government Is Considering New Safety Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin sphnews-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-media-focus-center-middle has-text-position-x-left has-text-position-y-bottom has-primary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1280\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original.png\" class=\"\" alt=\"Flame from a gas stove\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-636x398.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-755x472.png 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-900x563.png 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2023\/01\/gas-stove-original-1200x750.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">air pollutants<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAre Gas Stoves Bad for Your Health? Here\u2019s Why the Federal Government Is Considering New Safety Regulations\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">In a new commentary for The Conversation, Jonathan Levy discusses how gas stoves can contribute to indoor air pollution, and whether you should consider shifting away from gas.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar sphnews-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">January 13, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/jonathan-levy\/\">Jonathan Levy, ScD<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/are-gas-stoves-bad-for-your-health-heres-why-the-federal-government-is-considering-new-safety-regulations-186454\">A version of this commentary originally appeared in <\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/are-gas-stoves-bad-for-your-health-heres-why-the-federal-government-is-considering-new-safety-regulations-186454\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Conversation<\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/are-gas-stoves-bad-for-your-health-heres-why-the-federal-government-is-considering-new-safety-regulations-186454\">.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cooks love their gadgets, from countertop slow cookers to instant-read thermometers. Now, there\u2019s increasing interest in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/magnetic-induction-cooking-can-cut-your-kitchens-carbon-footprint-151422\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">magnetic induction cooktops<\/a>\u2014surfaces that cook much faster than conventional stoves, without igniting a flame or heating an electric coil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of this attention is overdue: Induction has long been popular in Europe and Asia, and it is more energy-efficient than standard stoves. But recent studies have also raised concerns about indoor air emissions from gas stoves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.1c04707\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Academic researchers<\/a>\u00a0and agencies such as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ww2.arb.ca.gov\/resources\/documents\/indoor-air-pollution-cooking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California Air Resources Board<\/a>\u00a0have reported that gas stoves can release hazardous air pollutants while they\u2019re operating, and even when they\u2019re turned off. A 2022 study by U.S. and Australian researchers estimates that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph20010075\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nearly 13% of current childhood asthma cases<\/a>\u00a0in the U.S. are attributable to gas stove use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dozens of U.S. cities have adopted or are considering regulations that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instituteforenergyresearch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Natural-Gas-Ban-Report_Updated.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bar natural gas hookups in new-construction homes<\/a>\u00a0after specified dates to speed a transition away from fossil fuels. At the same time, at least 20 states have adopted laws or regulations that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/02\/17\/politics\/natural-gas-ban-preemptive-laws-gop-climate\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prohibit bans on natural gas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Jan. 9, 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that it will consider measures to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2023-01-09\/us-safety-agency-to-consider-ban-on-gas-stoves-amid-health-fears\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">regulate hazardous emissions from gas stoves<\/a>. The agency has not proposed specific steps yet, and said that any regulation will \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/01\/09\/business\/gas-stove-ban-federal-agency\/index.html\">involve a lengthy process<\/a>.\u201d On Jan. 11, CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric further clarified that the agency was looking for ways to reduce indoor air quality hazards, but\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpsc.gov\/About-CPSC\/Chairman\/Alexander-Hoehn-Saric\/Statement\/Statement-of-Chair-Alexander-Hoehn-Saric-Regarding-Gas-Stoves\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">did not plan to ban gas stoves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=iR82G3IAAAAJ&amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">environmental health researcher<\/a>\u00a0who does work on housing and indoor air, I have participated in studies that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envres.2020.110561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">measured air pollution in homes<\/a>\u00a0and built models to predict how indoor sources would\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.156625\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contribute to air pollution in different home types<\/a>. Here is some perspective on how gas stoves can contribute to indoor air pollution, and whether you should consider shifting away from gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q_I8xc9hLoU\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2>Respiratory effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the main air pollutants commonly associated with using gas stoves is nitrogen dioxide, or NO\u2082, which is a byproduct of fuel combustion. Nitrogen dioxide exposures in homes have been associated with&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1097\/EDE.0b013e318280e2ac\">more severe asthma<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.envres.2017.07.052\">increased use of rescue inhalers in children<\/a>. This gas can also affect asthmatic adults, and it contributes to both the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1164\/rccm.201909-1744OC\">development<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1183\/13993003.03432-2020\">exacerbation<\/a>&nbsp;of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nitrogen dioxide in homes comes both from outdoor air that infiltrates indoors and from indoor sources. Road traffic is the most significant outdoor source; unsurprisingly, levels are higher\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.7b01148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">close to major roadways<\/a>. Gas stoves often are the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph17238972\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most substantial indoor source<\/a>, with a greater contribution from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.1c04707\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">large burners that run longer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aga.org\/research\/fact-sheets\/indoor-air-quality-and-residential-gas-ranges\/\">gas industry\u2019s position<\/a>&nbsp;is that gas stoves are a minor source of indoor air pollutants. This is true in some homes, especially with respect to exposures averaged over months or years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there are many homes in which gas stoves contribute more to indoor nitrogen dioxide levels than pollution from outdoor sources does, especially for short-term \u201cpeak\u201d exposures during cooking time. For example, a study in Southern California showed that around half of homes exceeded a health standard based on the highest hour of nitrogen dioxide concentrations,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1289\/ehp.1306673\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">almost entirely because of indoor emissions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can one gas stove contribute more to your exposure than an entire highway full of vehicles? The answer is that outdoor pollution disperses over a large area, while indoor pollution concentrates in a small space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZRqOUcVs52k\" title=\"How to Understand Indoor Air Quality | Ask This Old House\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>How much indoor pollution you get from a gas stove is affected by the structure of your home, which means that indoor environmental exposures to NO\u2082 are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2105\/AJPH.2011.300119\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">higher for some people than for others<\/a>. People who live in larger homes, have working range hoods that vent to the outdoors and have well-ventilated homes in general will be less exposed than those in smaller homes with poorer ventilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But even larger homes can be affected by gas stove usage, especially since the air in the kitchen does not immediately mix with cleaner air elsewhere in the home. Using a range hood when cooking, or other ventilation strategies such as opening kitchen windows, can bring down concentrations dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Methane and hazardous air pollutants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Nitrogen dioxide is not the only pollutant of concern from gas stoves. Some pollution with potential impacts on human health and Earth\u2019s climate occurs when stoves aren\u2019t even running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 2022 study estimated that U.S. gas stoves not in use emit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/methane\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">methane<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a colorless, odorless gas that is the main component of natural gas \u2013 at a level that traps as much heat in the atmosphere as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.1c04707\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">about 400,000 cars<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of these leaks can go undetected. Although gas distributors add an odorant to natural gas to ensure that people will smell leaks before there is an explosion risk, the smell may not be strong enough for residents to notice small leaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people also have a much stronger sense of smell than others. In particular, those who have lost their sense of smell \u2013 whether from COVID-19 or other causes\u2014<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.10%20that%20were%2021\/acs.est.1c08298\" target=\"_blank\">may not smell even large leaks<\/a>. One recent study found that\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/news\/health-news\/articles\/2022-07-01\/gas-used-in-homes-has-links-to-cancer-leaks-often-undetected\" target=\"_blank\">5% of homes had leaks<\/a>\u00a0that owners had not detected that were large enough to require repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This same study showed that leaking natural gas contained\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.1c08298\" target=\"_blank\">multiple hazardous air pollutants<\/a>, including benzene, a cancer-causing agent. While measured concentrations of benzene did not reach health thresholds of concern, the presence of these hazardous air pollutants could be problematic in homes with substantial leaks and poor ventilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Reasons to switch: Health and climate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you live in a home with a gas stove, what should you do and when should you worry? First, do what you can to improve ventilation, such as running a range hood that vents to the outdoors and opening kitchen windows while cooking. This will help, but it won\u2019t eliminate exposures, especially for household members who are in the kitchen while cooking takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you live in a smaller home or one with a smaller closed kitchen, and if someone in your home has a respiratory disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exposures may still be concerning even with good ventilation. Swapping out a gas stove for one that uses magnetic induction would eliminate this exposure while also providing climate benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI know people are hesitant about these kinds of induction stoves, but if you haven\u2019t looked at one in 20 years, go take a look.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/evanhalper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@evanhalper<\/a> to a skeptical <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GustavoArellano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@GustavoArellano<\/a> on the push by climate advocates to ditch gas stoves: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NvZxqplO0E\">https:\/\/t.co\/NvZxqplO0E<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Sammy Roth (@Sammy_Roth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sammy_Roth\/status\/1480940927359221760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 11, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>There are multiple incentive programs to support gas stove changeovers, given their importance for slowing climate change. For example, the recently signed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/5376\/text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022<\/a>, which includes many provisions to address climate change, offers rebates for the purchase of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerreports.org\/appliances\/inflation-reduction-act-and-new-electric-appliance-rebates-a3460144904\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high-efficiency electric appliances such as stoves<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving away from gas stoves is especially important if you are investing in home energy efficiency measures, whether you are doing it to take advantage of incentives, reduce energy costs or shrink your carbon footprint. Some weatherization steps can reduce air leakage to the outdoors, which in turn can increase indoor air pollution concentrations if residents don\u2019t also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ina.12446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improve kitchen ventilation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In my view, even if you\u2019re not driven to reduce your carbon footprint \u2013 or you\u2019re just seeking ways to cook pasta faster \u2013 the opportunity to have cleaner air inside your home may be a strong motivator to make the switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This article has been updated to reflect the Jan. 11, 2023 statement from the Consumer Product Safety Commission that the agency has no plans to ban gas stoves.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A version of this commentary originally appeared in The Conversation. Cooks love their gadgets, from countertop slow cookers to instant-read thermometers. Now, there\u2019s increasing interest in\u00a0magnetic induction cooktops\u2014surfaces that cook much faster than conventional stoves, without igniting a flame or heating an electric coil. Some of this attention is overdue: Induction has long been popular [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15205,"featured_media":220965,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[2142,1538,4070,2261],"bu-publication":[3516],"sphnews-article-category":[],"sphnews-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"profile_tax":[105],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/220962"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15205"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220962"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/220962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":220971,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/220962\/revisions\/220971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/220965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-article-category?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-topic?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=220962"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=220962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}