Science Advances report also finds people of color and low-income residents in US disproportionately affected

Science Advances report also finds people of color and low-income residents in US disproportionately affected

Using a gas stove increases nitrogen dioxide exposure to levels that exceed public health recommendations, a new study shows. The report, published Friday in Science Advances, found that people of color and low-income residents in the US were disproportionately affected.

Indoor gas and propane appliances raise average concentrations of the harmful pollutant, also known as NO2, to 75% of the World Health Organization’s standard for indoor and outdoor exposure.

That means even if a person avoids exposure to nitrogen dioxide from traffic exhaust, power plants, or other sources, by cooking with a gas stove they will have already breathed in three-quarters of what is considered a safe limit.

“When you’re using a gas stove, you are burning fossil fuel directly in the home,” said Yannai Kashtan, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate at Stanford University. “Ventilation does help but it’s an imperfect solution and ultimately the best way is to reduce pollution at the source.”

  • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
    1•6 months ago

    I have an induction hot plate and while it’s great for boiling water or searing steak it will invariably burn anything I attempt to cook on low because it just uses high heat for a shorter amount of time instead of doing a constant lower power.

    I’m probably going to get an induction stove next, but I’m not buying one that I don’t get to test out first to avoid this. I really hope the full-size ones don’t do this but I don’t trust companies on principle and they’ll do something stupid like that to save money.

    • @[email protected]English
      2•6 months ago

      What kind of pan are you using? Maybe a heavier one like cast iron would work better.

      But I’ve used regular full ones and they didn’t have that issue. I’ve also seen them used just fine in commercial kitchens.

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
        1•6 months ago

        I’ve used both cheap steel pans and cast iron, and while the effect is less it still turns my sweated onions into sauteed onions intermittently. I’m glad to hear that mine is just built cheaply and that proper induction tops can handle consistent low temperature better. Still not buying one without trying it, though

        Honestly, I would love a stove that’s just a 3" thick steel top with induction burners on one side. There would be a steady temperature gradient the whole way across, and pans of any size, shape, or material could be put anywhere on the surface for just the right amount of heat.