Gas stoves have come under fire for posing a health risk. Find out why and what you can do to protect yourself.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Gas stoves have long been a popular option in homes and restaurants, but warnings by scientists have ignited a debate over their safety.
Do gas stoves really pose a health risk, and if so, how concerned should you be? Find out on this episode of the Healthy Hkeptic.
Gas stoves burn natural gas, which emits potentially harmful compounds. Chief among them is nitrogen dioxide, which can irritate the lungs and worsen respiratory conditions.
Studies have also linked long-term exposure to developing asthma, especially in kids, as well as chronic lung disease known as COPD.
As a result, gas stove emissions have been labeled a “public health concern” by the American Public Health Association.
But how big a concern for individuals depends on a number of factors, including how much you use your stove, how large your house is, how well it’s ventilated, and whether someone in your home has lung issues.
Whatever the risk, a few simple precautions can help reduce it.
Turn on the vent hood over your stove when cooking, even if you’re just boiling water.
Make sure it vents to the outside instead of just recirculating air.
Open windows in or near the kitchen.
Keep the heat level down.
And stick to back burners, which typically are completely under the hood.
Finally, keep people who might be vulnerable out of the kitchen during and after cooking.
Of course, there’s the option of replacing your gas stove with an electric or induction stove, neither of which emits nitrogen dioxide. But switching isn’t necessary if you can’t or don’t want to.
For most of us, any risk from gas stoves is manageable and doesn’t need to be a burning worry. Helping you be a healthy skeptic, I’m Robert Davis.