What Type of Stove You Cook Dinner On Can Impact Indoor Air Quality
Switching from gas to electric stoves cuts indoor air pollution
Gas stoves are still widely prevalent in U.S. homes, but they come with a potential health risk. Switching from a gas stove to an electric induction stove can slash indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution, a known health hazard, by more than 50 percent, according to research led by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The findings appear in the journal Energy Research & Social Science. For the investigation, twenty households were monitored continuously over three seven-day periods to assess indoor air quality and stove use. It was discovered that there was a 56 percent reduction in average daily NO2 concentrations in the induction stove group compared to the control group who were cooking using gas stoves. The study comes on the heels of a New York City law that will ban gas-powered heaters, cooking stoves, and water boilers in all new buildings to assist in meeting climate goals.
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
