Recently you may have seen a health news that says that gas stoves cause asthma in children.
In the U.S., an estimated 8.3 percent of children have asthma. Asthma is much more common in poor children and children of color. Poorly ventilated apartments, possibly with gas cooking, are also more common in those groups.A 2022 paper found that gas stoves emit methane, even when they are off. The authors estimate a 34 percent increase in the risk of asthma with exposure to gas stoves.
Takeaway:
- Ventilate your house.
- You don’t need to change out your gas stove urgently. However, if you have a child with (or at risk for) asthma, you may want to consider changing it for an induction stove.
- Use a HEPA filter with an activated carbon filter. At least one study showed that installing such a filter in the kitchen lowered nitrogen dioxide levels by half as much as replacing the stove. It is more effective than the range hood fan.