Long-term NO2 Exposure From Gas Stoves Increases Risk of Pediatric Asthma

According to authors of a study in Science Advances, approximately 50 million US homes have gas stoves. Emissions from gas stoves, which produce hazardous air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and benzene, “degrade indoor air quality and are associated with adverse health outcomes that include pediatric asthma and hospitalizations,” the authors wrote.

Investigators constructed a population-level model of NO₂ exposure from combustion by gas and propane stoves to estimate NO₂ exposure and health consequences using emissions and concentration measurements. More than 100 US homes were included in the analysis.

On average, gas and propane stoves were found to increase long-term NO₂ exposure by 4 parts per billion volume across the United States. This increase exceeds 75% of the exposure guideline from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The investigators noted that “this increased exposure likely causes approximately 50,000 cases of current pediatric asthma from long-term NO₂ exposure alone.”

The study also revealed that short-term NO₂ exposure from typical gas stove use frequently surpasses both WHO and US Environmental Protection Agency benchmarks.

Among different demographic groups, the study showed that people living in smaller residences (<800 square feet) were found to incur 4 times more long-term NO₂ exposure than those in larger residences (>3000 square feet). Additionally, American Indian/Alaska Native households experienced 60% more NO₂ exposure and Black and Hispanic/Latino households experienced 20% more NO₂ exposure than the national average.

“Our research shows that pollution from gas and propane stoves disproportionately affects lower-income people and racial and ethnic minorities and that gas and propane stoves are responsible for substantial pediatric asthma and adult mortality,” the authors wrote regarding the results of the study.

They concluded that their findings underscore the significance of integrating indoor sources of air pollution into forthcoming policies aimed at safeguarding individuals from harmful substances like NO₂, benzene, and carbon monoxide.