UK gas stoves emit more air pollution indoors than a busy road
Indoor air pollution from gas stoves was measured to be worse than levels detected outdoors in a dense urban area of London, according to a new study.
Gas stoves may expose people to higher levels of pollution than is found outside on busy roads in the UK, a new study has found.
Consumer group Which? conducted a study, measuring fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from gas stoves in four homes in central London last November.
They found that NO2 levels increased sharply, and remained elevated for hours after use of the stove. The levels of pollution far exceed World Health Organization guidelines.
PM2.5 and NO2 can contribute to asthma, respiratory illnesses, lung cancer and Parkinson’s disease, among other ailments.
Perhaps the most shocking finding was that pollution levels indoors were significantly above those found on Marylebone Road, a busy thoroughfare in London. The researchers measured 14 micrograms of PM2.5 on the road, averaged over a 24-hour period, and NO2 levels of 33 micrograms per cubic metre. But indoors, homes with gas stoves measured 100 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre.
Ventilation can dramatically reduce the levels of indoor air pollution, although to achieve any benefit vents need to move air outside rather than merely circulating air indoors.
“It’s shocking to think that something as routine as cooking dinner could be releasing harmful pollutants into our own homes, but our snapshot research shows that once it spikes, air pollution can spread rapidly through the house and linger for long periods of time,” Which? energy and sustainability editor Emily Seymour said.
The study adds to the growing body of evidence that gas used in homes poses a threat to human health. Research shows that stoves leak methane, even when they are turned off. Another study links one in eight cases of childhood asthma to gas stoves.
In Europe, research suggests that more than 100 million European households may be exposed to air pollution from gas stoves at levels that would violate outdoor air quality standards.