A new study led by Stanford University shows gas stoves emit substantial nitrogen dioxide pollution indoors, equating to outdoor pollution levels. Switching to electric stoves can significantly improve indoor air quality and health.
Staying indoors may not protect you from dangerous air pollution, according to a new study led by Stanford University. Published in the journal PNAS Nexus, the research reveals that gas and propane stoves emit significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide, harmful to human health.
Nitrogen dioxide exposure is linked to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), preterm births, diabetes and lung cancer.
Previous studies have addressed nitrogen dioxide pollution from gas stoves, but this is the first to assess exposure both indoors and outdoors on a national scale. The study found that replacing gas stoves with electric ones can reduce nitrogen dioxide exposure by over a quarter nationwide, and by half for the heaviest stove users.
“We know that outdoor air pollution harms our health, but we assume our indoor air is safe,” senior author Rob Jackson, the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Provostial Professor in Earth System Science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, said in a news release. “Our research shows that if you use a gas stove, you’re often breathing as much nitrogen dioxide pollution indoors from your stove as you are from all outdoor sources combined.”
Indoor air pollutants pose significant health risks, yet few regulations exist to manage indoor air quality. The U.S. Clean Air Act and other measures have successfully lowered outdoor air pollution, but indoor equality has not received the same attention. The latest findings underscore the need to re-evaluate indoor air standards and promote cleaner alternatives to gas stoves.
The study integrated indoor air quality measurements with outdoor data, building characteristics for 133 million residential dwellings, and occupant behavior statistics to provide a comprehensive picture of the pollutant’s impact. The researchers developed U.S.-wide maps that detail long- and short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure by zip code.
Despite outdoor sources like vehicles being the primary contributors to nitrogen dioxide pollution for most Americans, the study highlighted that in some homes, especially smaller ones in rural areas, gas stoves alone can create nitrogen dioxide levels exceeding safety thresholds. Urban areas, with their high outdoor pollution and compact living spaces, also faced heightened risk from indoor pollution.
“It’s time to redirect our focus to what’s happening inside our homes, especially as families spend more time indoors,” added lead author Yannai Kashtan, an air quality scientist at PSE Healthy Energy who conducted the research as a graduate student in Jackson’s lab.
Interventions like rebates and tax incentives promoting cleaner cooking technologies can significantly reduce exposure to harmful indoor pollutants. These measures could be particularly impactful for families in smaller homes, rented units and underserved communities.
Previous research by the same team indicated that long-term nitrogen dioxide exposure is markedly higher among Native American, Black and Hispanic households.
“As we strive for cleaner air and healthier living, we should prioritize indoor air quality,” Jackson concluded. “Switching to electric stoves is a positive step towards cleaner cooking and better health.”