A study found that asthma improved after switching from a gas stove to an electric stove

the Gas versus electricity debate It goes on and on when it comes to determining the best and safest stove for your kitchen. Published in early July, A He studies by the MetroHealth System, a hospital and academic medical center in Northeast Ohio, in collaboration with six community organizations, found that participants with asthma reported respiratory improvement after they switched their respiratory devices. Gas stoves For electricity.

According to one of the researchers, Dr. Ashwini Sehgal, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, in an article published by the nonprofit news organization ConversationThis is the first study to explore whether switching from a gas stove to an electric stove can reduce asthma symptoms.

Study results

The study included 85 adults and children in northeastern Ohio with “poorly controlled asthma,” which was based on their symptoms, use of emergency medications and activity restrictions. Each participant recorded this information not only for one to four weeks before replacing their gas stoves for free with electric induction models, but also two to three months after the replacement.

“We chose induction stoves because they heat and cool quickly, are safer, and are easier to clean than electric coil stoves,” Segal wrote in his article The Conversation. While induction cooktops are electric, they use an electromagnetic field to heat your cookware, while electric stoves rely on electricity to do so.

Before and after replacing stoves, Air quality monitoring devices Measurement of nitrogen dioxide levels for seven days was used. Nitrogen dioxide, an air pollutant gas emitted by gas stoves, can cause air combustion. Harm the lungs.

After switching from gas to electricity, indoor nitrogen dioxide levels dropped by 70%, and according to Segal, participants’ asthma symptoms went from mild to mild, showing improvements “similar to — or even greater than — those reported in Clinical trials of commonly used asthma medications“.

Days missed from work or school decreased by about 80%, while emergency visits and hospitalizations decreased by 70%.

Aside from the asthma improvement, 98% of participants reported feeling satisfied or very satisfied with their new electric induction stoves, while 41% felt the same about their previous gas models.

Research limitations

Segal points out that the study only followed a small number of people for a few months and did not include a comparison group with gas stoves. The results were also based on a self-reported questionnaire rather than medical records.

The results may not apply to people with mild asthma or to other areas of the United States with different levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Information on other household sources of NO2, such as stoves or kerosene heaters, was not collected, nor were data collected on participants’ allergy status, stove use, or additional medications.

As a result, more research is needed to confirm the study results and learn more about long-term outcomes.

The researchers were unable to increase the study’s sample size or duration because the Trump administration ended the project in May 2025, after it was selected for three-year funding by the US Environmental Protection Agency in December 2024.

Important considerations

As Segal said in his article, switching from a gas stove to an electric stove will not cure asthma and will not serve as a substitute for medical care and other health precautions.

It should also be taken into account that replacing the stove may not be financially possible for many. “Most of our study participants lived in homes built before 1960, and we spent an average of $7,000 per household to upgrade their electrical systems as part of the study,” Segal wrote, adding that an electric stove plus installation costs about $1,500 in newer American homes.

What other research shows

Gas stoves are a source Indoor air pollutionlike emit Gaseous pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde, both of which can cause cancer.

A Study May 2024 It found that nitrogen dioxide, in particular, is produced by gas stoves in the United States at short-term exposure levels above those considered safe by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.

A 2024 study also estimated, at the time, that 50,000 cases of asthma in children were linked to nitrogen dioxide emitted from gas stoves. If other gas stove pollutants are included, this number could rise to About 200,000 cases. Nitrogen dioxide also has He has been contacted Lung cancer, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and premature birth.

Along with increased levels of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide, the American Lung Association reports Nitrogen dioxide has been linked to cancer, autoimmune disorders, pregnancy and childbirth outcomes, and damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and nervous system.

The UC Davis Center for Environmental Health Sciences adds that Both electric and gas cooking It can release PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less) and ultrafine particles, which can cause or worsen respiratory diseases and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders and immune system dysfunction.

In fact, frying foods on electric stoves produced higher levels of particulate matter than on gas stoves.

However, it should be noted that contaminant levels in a gas stove can be as high It varies from one home to another Health effects will depend on these levels and duration of exposure. An individual’s lifestyle, health, age and current medical conditions can also determine health effects.

How to reduce air pollution during indoor cooking

If you can’t switch from a gas stove to an electric stove, you can take other steps to reduce indoor air pollution when cooking. When outdoor air pollution is low, increase ventilation by opening windows and using your kitchen hood exhaust.

If this is not possible, consider purchasing Air purifier For your kitchen, which can filter out cooking particles and, if it includes an activated carbon filter, some gases, such as volatile organic compounds. Just be sure to replace your air purifier’s filter regularly so it works as intended They can spit out pollutants Return to your home if it becomes saturated.

Ultimately, while replacing your gas stove with an electric model can reduce indoor air pollution and its health effects, it’s not a complete solution. There are other steps you can take to improve air quality.