Researchers at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Jaime I in Spain have discoveredthat gas stoves contribute to the premature death of around 40,000 Europeans every year. This is the first time researchers have been able to accurately estimate premature deaths caused by gas stove pollution.
For almost 50 years, the world has been aware of the dangers of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) produced by gas stoves. Researchers have now calculated the annual death toll by linking existing health studies to NO2 readings in the homes of Europeans.
They found that in 14 European countries, people’s homes are experiencing hazardous conditions as fumes from gas stoves, combined with background pollution, breach World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
“Already in 1978, we first learned that NO2 pollution is many times higher in kitchens using gas stoves than electric stoves. But only now can we determine how many lives are being taken,” says the lead author of the new study, Dr. Juana Maria Delgado-Saborita.
In which European countries do gas stoves pose the greatest risk?
Around a third of European homes use gas for cooking and these tend to have the highest levels of NO2.
Italy, Poland, Romania, France and the United Kingdom have the highest number of premature deaths caused by gas stoves. Pollution is highest in those homes with poorer ventilation and longer cooking times.
Indoor air quality is a serious health issue, as Europeans spend almost all of their time indoors with less fresh air, as houses today are designed to be airtight.
Gas stoves have also been found to emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, even when turned off.
How did the researchers determine the pollution caused by the gas stove?
This study may be a major breakthrough in our understanding of the harm caused by gas stoves to human health.
The researchers used dozens of health studies that identified possible risk factors for asthma and premature death caused by specific levels of NO2.
Previous studies have not been able to apply risk indicators to real life until last year, when Dutch researchers carried out extensive NO2 measurements inside and outside homes in several European countries to get the most accurate picture yet of indoor pollution from gas stoves.
The university used government datasets to expand on these results and create regional maps of indoor NO2 pollution from stoves. This allowed the researchers to obtain the first scientific estimates of premature deaths and childhood asthma caused by NO2 in Europe.
However, the true number of lives lost due to gas stove pollution is likely to be significantly higher.
The lack of data meant the researchers had to rule out some effects of pollution, which may also contribute to higher death and asthma rates. They focused only on NO2 pollution because it is well studied by epidemiologists.
Other harmful pollutants produced by burning gas include carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and particulate matter. The researchers say they lacked the data to accurately predict the effects of these pollutants.
Using a less precise method, they estimate that gas stoves cause about 367,000 cases of asthma in children and 726,000 cases of asthma in all age groups, including these other pollutants, except for carbon monoxide, which is not known to be associated with asthma.
Gas stove. Photo: Unisplash
Gas Stoves: The Silent Killers of European Kitchens
Ah, gas stoves. The charming little appliances that promise to turn us into master chefs while simultaneously turning our homes into mini gas chambers! Researchers at the University of Jaime I in Spain have pulled back the curtain on this domestic danger, revealing that gas stoves are behind a shocking 40,000 premature deaths a year in Europe alone. That’s right, folks! If you’re still cooking with gas, you might as well be juggling chainsaws in your kitchen!
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): the invisible villain lurking in your kitchen! We’ve known for almost 50 years that these gas-powered beauties emit NO2, but only now do we have a gory body count. The researchers deftly connected old data about air quality and health outcomes to give us the grim final tally. Talk about an overcooked study!
Kitchen Catastrophes and Countries at Risk
One-third of European homes are using gas for cooking, and surprise, surprise—they’re also experiencing pollution levels that make a London fog look like a gentle breeze. The culprits? Italy, Poland, Romania, France, and the good old UK—where the only thing steaming more than the kettle is the air quality. It’s almost like cooking with gas is the new black—if black meant mortality rates and diminished lung capacity!
“These fumes are stronger than my mother-in-law’s glares when I forget to call!”
But it doesn’t stop there. The researchers found that poor ventilation and long cooking times create a perfect storm for bad air quality. So, turn on the fan and crack a window, or you might just end up sending dinner guests to the hospital instead of home!
How They Conducted the Study: Sherlock Holmes, but in the Kitchen!
Using a mix of past health studies and new NO2 measurements from Dutch researchers, the team crafted their findings like a master chef concocting a soufflé. They created regional maps of NO2 pollution from gas stoves, which explains the level of advanced techniques behind this research. Who knew air pollution could be mapped like it’s the next Eurotrip? All without the hassle of customs!
Sadly, the icy reality is that the true death toll could be even higher. The researchers limited their focus to NO2 due to a lack of data on other harmful byproducts from gas burning, like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde—yes, the stuff they use to preserve… well, dead people. If that doesn’t whet your appetite, I don’t know what will!
Coughing Up Asthma Cases
Aside from the staggering mortality rate, gas stoves are also responsible for creating around 1.1 million asthma cases across all age groups. So much for a cozy family dinner; you may as well hand out inhalers as party favors!
“Just remember—anyone need a breath mint? We’re cooking with gas!”
In conclusion, dear readers, if you’re still clinging onto that vintage gas stove the way some cling to their flip phones, it might be time to reconsider your culinary choices. Switching to electric not only brings your carbon footprint down but might also secure your kitchen against accidental asphyxiation. And let’s face it, are we really ready for the next episode of “Survivor: Kitchen Edition”?
So, as you grill your veggies or boil your pasta, just remember: better the kettle than the devil! Choose wisely, cook safely, and perhaps invest in some air purifiers for good measure. Until next time, may your meals be delicious and your air quality be breathable!
Researchers from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Jaime I in Spain have revealed that gas stoves are responsible for approximately 40,000 premature deaths in Europe annually. This groundbreaking study marks the first instance in which researchers have accurately quantified the number of lives lost due to gas stove-related pollution.
For decades, the perilous impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a dangerous byproduct of gas cooking, has been acknowledged globally. Recent findings demonstrate how scientists have linked extensive health studies with NO2 levels detected in European households to ascribe a more precise annual mortality figure.
Researchers discovered that residences in 14 European countries are subjected to hazardous air quality, with emissions from gas stoves exacerbating existing pollution and surpassing World Health Organization (WHO) safety guidelines.
“Our understanding of NO2 pollution dates back to 1978, when it was first established that gas stoves produce significantly higher NO2 levels compared to electric cooking appliances. Only now can we assess the lives lost due to these emissions,” states Dr. Juana Maria Delgado-Saborita, the chief investigator of the new study.
In which European countries do gas stoves pose the greatest risk?
Gas cooking is a common practice in roughly one-third of European households, where the prevalence of NO2 emissions is notably elevated.
Countries such as Italy, Poland, Romania, France, and the United Kingdom report the highest rates of premature deaths attributed to gas stoves, particularly in homes characterized by inadequate ventilation and extended cooking durations.
Indoor air quality poses a significant health concern, especially since the majority of Europeans spend nearly all their time indoors in homes designed with minimal air exchange.
Furthermore, gas stoves have been found to emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, even when they are not in use.
How did the researchers determine the pollution caused by the gas stove?
This study potentially signifies a pivotal advancement in understanding the detrimental health effects of gas stoves.
The research team utilized an array of health studies that delineated potential risk factors for both asthma and premature mortality resultant from specific concentrations of NO2.
Until last year, previous investigations failed to correlate these risk indicators with real-life scenarios. Dutch researchers conducted extensive NO2 measurements, both indoors and outdoors, in several European nations, yielding the most precise assessment to date of indoor air pollution arising from gas stoves.
The researchers enhanced their findings by using government datasets, which enabled them to construct regional maps illustrating indoor NO2 pollution levels originating from gas stoves. This facilitated the derivation of the first scientific estimates regarding premature deaths and childhood asthma linked to NO2 exposure across Europe.
However, the actual toll of lives lost due to gas stove pollution could be substantially greater.
The researchers faced limitations due to scarce data, necessitating the exclusion of certain pollution effects that also contribute to elevated death and asthma rates. Their analysis concentrated solely on NO2, given its extensive study by epidemiologists.
Additional pollutants generated by burning gas include carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, and particulate matter. Due to a lack of comprehensive data, the researchers acknowledged that they could not adequately predict the ramifications of these pollutants.
Employing a less accurate estimation approach, they project that gas stoves contribute to around 367,000 cases of childhood asthma and approximately 726,000 cases of asthma across all age demographics, excluding carbon monoxide, as it is not associated with asthma.
Gas stove. Photo: Unisplash