Cooking with Gas: Indoor Air Quality and Residential Gas Ranges and Stoves

Are there documented risks to respiratory health from the use of natural gas stoves?

The available body of scientific research does not provide sufficient or consistent evidence demonstrating chronic hazards from gas ranges, i.e., that pollutant emissions associated with gas ranges adversely affect human health, and that potential hazards from gas ranges are meaningfully different from those associated with appliance alternatives (e.g., electric ranges). While combustion emissions from gas ranges, ovens, and cooktops can contribute to some degree to emissions of recognized pollutants, there are no documented risks to respiratory health from natural gas stoves from the regulatory and advisory agencies responsible for protecting residential consumer health and safety.

Does living with natural gas cooking appliances increase asthma in children and other populations?

The recently asserted association between the presence of a natural gas cooking appliance and increases in asthma in children is not supported by data-driven investigations covering actual appliance usage, emission rates, exposures, and the control of other factors that are well established for contributing to asthma and other respiratory system threats.

Does electric cooking improve indoor air quality?

There is no substantive evidence that electric cooking improves indoor air quality or produces lower emissions when cooking byproducts are considered. Indoor air quality studies have consistently found that emissions from the cooking process—not solely from the burner or heat source operation—represent the chief source of concern with respect to indoor air quality for various classes of pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.

Switching to electrical appliances is not a useful strategy to address indoor air quality because the emissions of concern are dominated by the smoke and grease that comes from cooking, regardless of the energy source used in conventional residential appliances. 

If natural gas ranges produce nitrogen dioxide (NO2), does this mean my range is a unique source of concern for indoor air quality?

Residential gas cooking appliances represent a minor source of NO2.

Industry-sponsored testing conducted thus far found that during the regular operation of cooktop burners and ovens, emissions of NO2 were under the regulated safety thresholds for appliances subject to NO2 emission rate limitations. 

Can exhaust hoods improve indoor air quality?

Yes, regardless of the type of hood installed, the use of the hood by consumers is advisable. But getting consumers to operate them while cooking represents a recurring challenge to mitigating kitchen cooking byproducts.

All gas-fired residential cooking stoves and ranges that combine ovens are design-certified to operate without outdoor exhaust systems, add-on exhaust hoods, or requirements for exhaust. No national model codes require hoods for residential cooking appliances.

Do the types of foods you cook on a cooktop impact indoor air quality?

Yes, frying and other high-heat and oil-based cooking methods have been studied extensively to understand their contributions to emissions of particulate matter (an important asthma exacerbation agent), volatile organic compounds, and other toxic and potentially toxic and carcinogenic emissions products.

Data-driven residential cooking studies and literature are dominated by, and strongly associated with, cooking emission products and specific cooking styles that represent the highest potential for negative consumer exposures.

What can be done to improve household air quality while cooking?

Installing an exhaust hood, where possible, can help if regularly used.

Beyond simple common sense, these responses are cited by EPA and others and provide the underlying technical basis for standards for safety.

Aside from the installation of range hoods and their use, what are other measures that can assist in providing adequate indoor air quality for residential consumers in their kitchen?

Modern residential building codes require kitchen ventilation to address general ventilation requirements, including normal indoor air quality concerns in kitchens. These ventilation systems should be operated by consumers to maintain good indoor air quality. 

What is the natural gas industry doing to address concerns over emissions from natural gas appliances?

As concerns over emissions from natural gas ranges and stoves are raised and debated, the natural gas industry is focused on bringing objective technical information to the discussion.