There are different types of stoves for cooking meals. But the most commonly used stove is gas stoves. These stoves in many homes endanger the health of us and our loved ones. A UK study found that stoves used by nearly a third of homes emit potentially dangerous gases. These gases continue to spread even when the stove is turned off. With the harmful gas that comes out, it creates the ground for very risky diseases.
FURNACES HAVE A RISK OF FATAL
Gas stoves can put families at risk of several deadly diseases by emitting the same particles sprayed by cars and trucks, according to scientists. Dr Jonathan Levy, a professor of environmental health at Boston University in the US, said stoves pollute homes with nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Dr Levy explained in an article in Conversation that gas can cause asthma in children and put adults at risk for cancer.
THE RISK OF DISEASE IS MORE IN THE CLOSED AREA
The pollutant is most commonly found on highways. But because kitchens are confined spaces, families are at much greater risk of being exposed to the cancer- and asthma-causing properties of gas when there is gas in the home. Dr Levy explained that the size of the house and the quality of the ventilation also play a role. “This gas can also affect adults with asthma and contributes to both the development and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,” he added.
CAUSES CANCER AND ASTHMA
A Dutch study found that people with gas stoves were 42 percent more likely to develop asthma. Even when the stoves are turned off, they emit chemicals such as methane that not only harm the environment but can cause rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties in humans. Gas cookers also release benzene, a chemical linked to different cancers, including leukemia.
PROVIDE VENTILATION TO REDUCE RISK
A recent US study found that 95 percent of gas stoves release cancer-causing gas. Meanwhile, the position of the gas industry is that gas stoves are a minor source of indoor air pollutants. To reduce your family’s exposure to harmful gases, Dr Levy suggested improving ventilation. “Try running an outdoor hood and opening the kitchen windows while you’re cooking.
SWITCH TO INDUCTION COOKERS FOR YOUR HEALTH
“This will help, but it won’t eliminate exposures, especially for household members who are in the kitchen while the food is being made,” he said. The expert also encouraged people to switch to magnetic induction cooktops, which are surfaces that cook much faster than traditional cooktops without igniting a flame or heating an electric coil.