Households using gas hobs are being warned about the health risks of cooking with windows closed, particularly during the cooler, wetter conditions that have affected the UK so far this September.
Advice on keeping houses cool during hot weather often suggests closing windows and curtains or blinds during the day to shut out heat, then opening them at night to let cooler air in. However, for those who cook with gas, failing to properly ventilate the kitchen could expose them to various health problems.
Health risks from gas cooking
According to Clean Air Hub UK, cooking with gas "releases air pollutants that harm human health and the environment." The organisation warns that gas cookers are a major source of indoor air pollution and the main source of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the home.
"Gas use in a typical kitchen can produce indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution that exceeds World Health Organisation air quality guidelines, UK Health and Safety Executive limits for indoor air pollution, and the legal UK outdoor air pollution standards," it states.
Gas cooking is linked to asthma in children and adults, decrements in pulmonary function, respiratory illness in adults, as well as dementia and cognitive decline in adults. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause inflammation of the airways, reduced lung function, and increased asthma attacks and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, especially in children.
Pollutants and long-term effects
Gas hobs can produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which can linger in the home. Gas cooking appliances can also leak pollutants when not in use, including methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and benzene, a known human carcinogen.
Research suggests that the impact of gas cooking on the burden of childhood asthma is comparable to that of second-hand smoke. Gas cooking appliances and the concentration of nitrogen dioxide during the first three months of life have also been linked to impaired memory and verbal development and a higher risk of ADHD symptoms in toddlers.
How to reduce exposure
For those still cooking with gas, there are ways to make it safer, including venting the kitchen or opening windows. Clean Air Hub UK advises: "Properly ventilate your kitchen when cooking, preferably with a functioning range hood vented to the outside, by mechanical ventilation, or by opening windows."
It also recommends considering switching to an electric appliance when and where possible, servicing gas appliances once a year, and installing carbon monoxide detectors in kitchens and nearby rooms. Use as much ventilation as possible during, and at least 10 minutes after, using a gas appliance, including opening windows to create a through-draught to help disperse the pollution.
If the gas appliance includes a fan, ensure it is clean, well-maintained, and has an outdoor vent. Minimise exposure to gas cooking emissions using plug-in appliances, such as an electric kettle, microwave, rice cooker, or air fryer.
