Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Professor Rob Jackson, the senior author of the study published on May 3 in Science Advances, expressed surprise at the findings. "I didn't expect to see pollutant concentrations breach health benchmarks in bedrooms within an hour of gas stove use, and stay there for hours after the stove is turned off," Jackson said. He emphasized the pervasive nature of the issue, stating, "It's the whole family's problem."
The study associates prolonged exposure to high NO2 levels with severe health repercussions, including exacerbated asthma attacks and potential reductions in lung development among children, correlating with early mortality rates. The research, which included contributions from the Central California Asthma Collaborative, PSE Healthy Energy, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, suggests that gas stoves contribute to approximately 200,000 current childhood asthma cases, with nitrogen dioxide alone accounting for one quarter of these cases.
Lead author Yannai Kashtan, a PhD student in Earth system science, noted that the amount of gas burned and the effectiveness of using range hoods are critical factors in exposure levels. "We found that just how much gas you burn in your stove is by far the biggest factor affecting how much you're exposed. And then, after that, do you have an effective range hood - and do you use it?" Kashtan explained.
The study also estimates that NO2 exposure from gas stoves could be linked to as many as 19,000 deaths annually, drawing parallels to the fatalities associated with secondhand smoke. These figures emerge from new data on NO2 concentrations in over 100 diverse homes, analyzed using the National Institutes for Standards and Technology's CONTAM software, which models airflow and contaminant transport.
"Our research not only quantifies NO2 emissions but also maps out the path these pollutants take from stoves to the air we breathe at home," said Jackson, underscoring the shift from emission sources to human exposure assessment.
Differences in home sizes and demographics also influence exposure levels. Smaller homes, particularly under 800 square feet, exhibit NO2 levels up to four times the national average. The study highlights disproportionate exposure risks for minority and lower-income groups, who often live in smaller spaces or areas with higher outdoor NO2 pollution.
This research builds on earlier findings by Jackson's team that detailed other pollutants emitted by gas stoves, such as methane and benzene. Jackson advocates for reducing exposure through better ventilation, especially in smaller residences.
Research Report:Nitrogen dioxide exposure, health outcomes, and associated demographic disparities 3 due to gas and propane combustion by U.S. stoves
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Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up
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