Indoor Air Pollution
And Your Health

Encinitas resident James Wang created a video, Gas Stoves and Air Quality, showing pollutant levels inside his kitchen before and after running a single burner on his gas stove for 30 seconds.  Formaldehyde (a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant) concentrations increased by a factor of 17, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) by a factor of 20, carbon dioxide by a factor of 2.3, and carbon monoxide by a factor of 90.

After just 30 seconds of stove operation the formaldehyde level increased to 5 times the maximum safe level, TVOC to almost 6 times the safe level, and carbon monoxide to 9 times the recommended maximum.

Consumer Reports ran similar tests with 5 different gas ranges and a gas cooktop, while measuring NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) levels.  They found that even a single burner on low heat caused NO2 concentrations to increase above safe levels if the ventilation fan was off, and a single burner on high heat increased NO2 concentrations above safe levels even when the vent fan is on.  

NO2 causes irritation of the airway and lungs and causes asthma attacks and other health impacts in children.  One study found that NO2 from gas stoves is responsible for over 12% of childhood asthma.

A recent report from Stanford University states that gas stoves and ovens give off benzene (another known human carcinogen) at high enough levels to raise concern.

Multiple reports recommend using the ventilation fan whenever cooking with a gas stove or oven and, if possible, open windows and doors to increase the amount of fresh air.

Regardless of the type of stove (induction, electric resistance, or gas) it is recommended to run the ventilation fan when cooking at high temperatures (frying, searing) as the food itself can give off particulate pollution (smoke) at concentrations high enough to be a health risk.