Overview
- Among people who cook with gas or propane, stoves account for roughly 25% of their total nitrogen dioxide exposure on average and up to 57% for frequent or longer cooking.
- The analysis estimates that switching to electric cooktops would bring about 22 million Americans below the World Health Organization’s long-term NO2 guideline.
- Electric ranges do not emit nitrogen dioxide, and experts recommend ventilation, opening windows, and using portable electric appliances as interim steps.
- Exposure contributions are greater in smaller dwellings and rural households, while overall exposure is highest in big cities where outdoor pollution is already elevated.
- Researchers used ZIP-code-level modeling and national datasets rather than in-home measurements, and the findings arrive as building-electrification policies expand and face legal challenges, including New York’s law for all-electric new buildings.