Air pollutants in housing units that received electric stoves as part of a pilot program dropped sharply, signaling that switching to electric appliances has public health benefits as well as environmental ones.
Results from a pilot program that switched gas stoves for electric ones in 10 public housing units in New York City reveal that air quality in the apartments improved significantly, reports Samantha Maldonado in Next City. According to data comparing the units that received electric stoves and ten control units that used gas stoves, “The households with electric ovens showed a 35% decrease in daily concentrations of the pollutant nitrogen dioxide and a nearly 43% difference in daily concentrations of carbon monoxide, according to the study results released in January.”
Other research supports these findings, linking pollutants from gas stoves to respiratory illnesses. “An alarming December 2022 study estimated that 18.8% of childhood asthma cases in New York might be prevented if households didn’t have gas stoves.”
While gas stoves have become a flashpoint in the electrification debate, they aren’t the only household appliances that emit harmful pollution. “Beyond stoves, other sources of pollutants like nearby gas boilers and cars also affected the levels of pollutants in the apartments studied, researchers said.” Electric appliances also reduce the risk of fire and accidents and provide cost savings to households.
FULL STORY: Bronx Residents Got Rid of Their Gas Stoves. Their Air Quality Markedly Improved.
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