The health and environmental damage caused by gas stoves is significantly greater than previously thought.
A Stanford University research team has found that methane emissions from gas ranges in the United States cause as much climate damage as half a million cars. And most of the methane is released when the stoves are turned off.
The scientists also reported bad news for the health of people living in homes with gas stoves. Nitrogen dioxide, which can trigger asthma and other respiratory diseases, is also released in significant quantities.
“If you have the financial ability to swap out a gas stovetop for an electric induction cooktop, I do think it’s a good idea,” the study’s co-author Rob Jackson, told The Washington Post. “It’s a good idea for the planet and for air quality.”
And if you don’t have the financial ability to replace your gas stove with a clean electric stove? Let’s find solutions that allow everyone — regardless of financial resources — to live in a home free of toxic gases.