Dr. Nusrat Homaira, a respiratory physician at Sydney Children's Hospital (Australia), said that besides electric stoves, gas stoves are a popular form of cooking today. However, there is increasing evidence that cooking with gas can make asthma in children worse.
According to Dr. Nusrat Homaira, asthma narrows the airways and restricts airflow, making breathing difficult. Many people manage the condition with a nebulizer and take other measures to control the disease.
Although there is no single cause of asthma, indoor air pollution such as kitchen exhaust from gas cooking - has a significant impact on human health, especially asthma.
Gas stoves emit toxic chemicals into the air, Homaira explained. These include carbon monoxide (CO), PM2.5 (small particles, usually from smoke), benzene, formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)…
All are harmful, but NO2 in particular has been linked to developing asthma and making it worse.
Gas fireplaces can also produce nitrogen dioxide, which is an invisible, tasteless gas that can be difficult to detect.
However, a US study found that homes with gas stoves can have nitrogen dioxide levels three times higher than those with electric stoves.
In particular, even when turned off, gas stoves can still emit chemicals such as methane, which can cause rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and benzene - a chemical linked to various cancers that can affect the body.
“This is particularly concerning for households with children, who often spend a large portion of their time indoors. It can also affect adults with asthma, as it contributes to both the development and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” said Nusrat Homaira.
To improve this problem, according to Dr. Nusrat Homaira, for many people, installing a high-efficiency extractor fan will not be feasible, especially for those who have to rent a house or are disadvantaged in terms of economic and income levels.
A simpler way to ventilate your home and protect the health of your family members is to open the windows during and after cooking. This will increase air circulation and can improve overall air quality.
