We recently wrote about researchers dispose of their gas stoves after measuring high levels of hazardous air pollution in the rooms they produce.
Some scientists and chefs concerned about the health and environmental impact of gas stoves, switch to electromagnetic induction stoves or even portable induction burners and advertise some additional benefits.
These stories raised some questions from readers. How about gas fireplaces or stoves? Or propane stoves? Do newer gas stoves pollute less? Are induction stoves safe for those with pacemakers?
Here are the answers to some of these questions.
Where do pollutants come from when cooking gas?
Dave Rose of Innisfil, Ont., Asked if nitrogen oxides – pollutants associated with adverse health effects such as asthma – are found naturally in small amounts in the gas or come from burning it.
The answer is that they are produced during combustion when nitrogen and oxygen in the air react with each other due to heat from the burning gas.
Meanwhile, carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion of the gas.
Eric Lebel, a researcher at PSE Healthy Energy in California and lead author of a recent study on gas stove pollutionsaid his team is beginning to look at the composition of natural gas in various cities, including toronto and vancouver.
Although it is mostly methane, he said, “there may be other pollutants in the gas.” These may include volatile organic compounds and sulfur compounds used to convert natural gas – which is usually odorless – odorous and therefore detectable when there are leaks.
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Of course, some contaminants are generated by heating cooking ingredients such as oil and fat (and any food you burn), regardless of the type of stove you use, so turning on the hood fan is a good idea.
Do propane hobs have the same problems as natural gas hobs?
While our stories have been about natural gas stoves, Peter Goss of St. John’s, the Netherlands, has a different type of gas stove and is writing to ask how it compares.
University of Saskatchewan professor Tara Kahan, who studied stove pollution, said high levels of nitrogen oxides are also released during propane stove cooking, so the health impact is expected to be similar: “In terms of air quality, this is not an obvious improvement over methane. “
Lebel said the pollution from cooking with propane was something his team was “actively studying.”
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He acknowledged that the impact on the climate is expected to be less with propane. This is because natural gas is made from methane, which in itself is much more powerful than carbon dioxide. Lebel’s research showed it leaks into the atmosphere even when the stove is not in use.
“We are not so worried about propane leaks, because it is not as strong a greenhouse gas as methane,” Lebel said. “However, CO2 is still produced when it is burned, in the same way that it is produced from methane.”
Do newer, more expensive, better-maintained gas stoves leak less and generate less pollutants?
As part of Lebel’s study, researchers are looking at stoves that are between three and 30 years old.
The study found there is no relationship between the age of the stove or the purchase price when it comes to methane or nitrous oxide emissionsafter energy power (which affects emissions) has been taken into account.
Rob Jackson, a professor at Stanford University who co-authored the study, said there are many connectors that run between the stove and natural gas networks, all of which leak a little. “Often, even when installed correctly, there is no way to seal the system properly.”
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Maintenance can reduce CO emissions to some extent. In the United States since 1926, kitchen stoves are allowed to emit up to 800 ppm CO (much higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s nine ppm exposure standard), according to article by TH Greiner, an engineer at Iowa State University: “A new band can broadcast as much as the old band.” However, the article says that field technicians report that most kitchen ranges can be set to produce less than 50 ppm.
How about pollution from gas fireplaces and stoves?
Lorraine McCannell asked, “Any research done on gas fireplaces and stoves that have the same effect as stoves?”
While all gas fireplaces, stoves and hot water boilers burn and release methane and thus pose a climate concern, Lebel and Jackson say there are fewer concerns than with gas stoves in terms of health.
This is because, unlike stoves, they usually need to have a vent (or chimney) on the outside.
Jackson said: “I don’t really expect gas fireplaces to be such a big source of indoor air pollution.” But he added that his team is starting to measure them to find out for sure.
Gas fireplaces are expected to generate less indoor air pollution than stoves, as they are required to be ventilated directly from the outside. However, researchers say they will conduct research to answer this question directly. (David Goldman / Associated Press)
Stoves and water heaters also tend to be in areas such as basements, where people spend less time than in kitchens.
This was said by Michael Thomas, founder of Carbon Switch, published in a blog his experience with measuring nitrogen oxides at home earlier this year and found that they had increased early in the morning when the kiln was turned on, suggesting that contaminants were leaking from the kiln.
If I have gas appliances in my home, is there a way to test air pollutants?
Thomas tested his air with an air quality monitor he bought online. He said those measuring nitrogen oxides were unfortunately expensive (about $ 300; a Canadian retailer sold Thomas’ model for more than $ 450 Cdn) and difficult to find.
Michael Thomas keeps an air monitor that he uses to measure the quality of the air in his home. He says devices that measure nitrous oxide pollutants are usually expensive and difficult to find. (CBC News)
If you are interested in other types of pollutants and live in Toronto or Vancouver, you can volunteer for the next part of Lebel’s studywhich takes place in May.
This part of the study will not test for pollutants from gas combustion, such as nitrogen oxides, but for pollutants in the unburned gas from your stove.
Is it true that people with pacemakers can’t use induction stoves?
It is true that magnetic fields generated by induction furnaces can interfere with devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps.
Organizations such as the British Heart Foundation and induction cooker manufacturers say people with such devices should keep them 60 centimeters off the induction hob when turned on.
Induction stoves are advertised as a fast and powerful alternative to gas stoves. However, people with pacemakers are advised to stand 60 centimeters from the hob while it is on. (Kim Brunhuber / CBC)
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