Dear Friends,
No doubt you’ve heard that a common household appliance has become the center of political debate. We are fortunate that Joan Schiller, a medical oncologist and widely-published lung cancer expert, is part of the C-Change team and can help us make sense of it all.
In her most recent blog below, Joan helps us focus on the science of the issue to understand concerns over using stoves powered by natural gas.
We’d love to hear your questions and comments on this issue; do be in touch!
Warmly,
The C-Change Conversations Team
Why Replacing Your Gas Stove Would Be Good for You, and the Planet
by Joan H. Schiller, MD
Lately gas stoves have become a political hot potato. In the spirit of taking the politics out of the kitchen and focusing on the science of the issue, here are four things to think about as you consider appliance choices and their impact on your family’s health today and in the future.
1. Pollutants from gas stoves and other poorly ventilated gas-powered appliances are increasingly being recognized as a major health problem. What we call “natural gas,” which many of us use for cooking, is really “methane gas.” Methane is the major component of household air pollution, which globally accounts for 4.3 million deaths from strokes and lung diseases, and over 1 million deaths from heart disease.
When we fire up our gas stove, the process creates nitrogen oxides (NOX), formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide (CO2). Nationwide, gas appliances emit more than twice as much NOX pollution as oil refineries or gas power plants, despite burning less gas. Other chemicals that are found in “natural gas,” such as benzene, are known carcinogens. And the problem persists even when the gas stove is turned off. An astonishing 76% of all methane emissions in homes occur when the stove is not in use, which could compromise your health and definitely contributes to the effects and risks of warming global temperatures.
These emissions can result in an increased risk of childhood asthma; respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing; and increased susceptibility to lung infections. In Australia, one study found that 12.3% of childhood asthma is attributable to exposure to gas stove pollution.
2. Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas. Just like carbon dioxide, it stays in the atmosphere and traps radiation from the sun, thus heating the planet. Methane, however, is 80 times more potent than CO2 in contributing to global warming over a 20-year period, further putting at risk our health and that of future generations. The collective methane emissions from all residential stoves nationwide would be equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of half a million cars. Some 13,000,000 tons of methane from all sectors of the natural gas supply chain are leaked annually, for about $2 billion in losses.
3. Cutting down on methane emissions will have a quicker impact than decreasing CO2 emissions. Even though methane is much more potent than CO2, it lasts in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time – the half-life for methane is about 12 years, compared to more than 300 years for CO2. There are numerous ways the oil, gas, agriculture, and waste industries could reduce methane emissions right now that will save money and pay for themselves.
4. Health and climate concerns aside, there are other incentives for making the switch to electric stoves. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included the first ever consumer rebates on electronic appliances. Dozens of cities have already enacted ordinances to ban gas hook-ups in most homes and new buildings, and many states, such as California and New York, are considering doing so as well.
I am a lung cancer physician and agree with other health experts: if you are moving into a new home or renovating your kitchen, do your family and the planet a favor and consider an induction or electric stove. In the meantime, spend more time on making sure your gas stove is properly ventilated, and less on the political debate this has become.
