The Health Connection

Indoor Air Quality

Let's start by looking inside our homes and buildings. We don’t regulate indoor air the same way we have standards for outdoor pollution. Yet we spend up to 90% of our time indoors.

Combustion from methane-powered ("natural gas") appliances, including HVAC systems, water heaters, dryers and gas stoves, can lead to indoor air pollution levels that exceed EPA’s legal limits for outdoor air pollution.

Impacts on our lungs

When we burn methane gas, one of the main byproducts is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). According to the American Lung Association, NO2 can have several negative impacts on our lungs, including:

Increased inflammation of the airways
Worsened cough and wheezing
Reduced lung function
Increased asthma attacks
Cardiovascular issues
Neurological harm
Greater likelihood of emergency department and hospital admissions.

Homes with gas stoves have 50 - 400% higher NO2 emissions than homes with electric stoves. This range stems from different uses of the stove, from shorter to longer cook times and oven use, and the efficiency of the stove.

A peer-reviewed study from December 2022 found that nearly 13% of U.S. childhood asthma cases can be attributed to the use of gas stoves.
A study published in 2023 found a direct link between gas stoves and indoor benzene contamination (benzene is a carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood cancers).

Plus, these appliances are found to leak methane even when turned off.

(More articles about gas stoves and physical health can be found links under "Learn More.")

More than 7 million homes and commercial buildings in the Mountain region burn fuels - including gas, oil, propane, wood, and biomass - in furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances.' These appliances are a significant source of outdoor air pollution that cost Montana $161 million in health impacts every year.' On-site air pollution from appliances is linked to asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancers, birth defects, and approximately 15 early deaths per year in Montana. A graph that shows the following details about how fuel-burning appliances pollute outdoor air: The appliance pollutant carbon monoxide is also found in car exhaust and is linked to cardiovascular disease. The appliance pollutant nitrogen dioxide is also found in power plant emissions and is linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness. The appliance pollutant ozone is also found in smog and is linked to respiratory illness. The appliance pollutant particulate matter is also found in wildfire smoke and is linked to cancer. The appliance pollutant benzene is also found in cigarette smoke and is linked to cancer. The appliance pollutant formaldehyde is also found in pesticides and is linked to cancer and respiratory illness.

Source: RMI, 2023. Click the graph above to see the full factsheet from RMI about gas stoves and your health.

The Bigger Picture: Climate Change is a Health Emergency

Informational graphic showing that climate Change is a Health Emergency because extreme weather is expected to increase food instability, vector-born & water-born disease, disruptions to basic necessities, and much more. Content adapted from the World Health Organization.

Climate change is bringing with it more extreme heat, longer wildfire smoke seasons and dangerous weather events that impact our health. It's also impacting our stress levels and mental health. In short: climate change is a health emergency. (See articles from the World Health Organization in the sidebar.)

While swapping out gas-powered appliances for electric ones can help address indoor air pollution, energy powered by fossil fuels still results in outdoor air pollution.

Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than CO2, but is more efficient at trapping radiation. Pound for pound, the comparative impact of methane is 25 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period.1 Plus, methane-powered appliances are responsible for 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions.

Therefore, we must address methane to meet our climate goals.

Studies over the past decade, and especially in the past few years, have shown that:

Methane gas leaks at all stages from drilling to end use.
This methane is dangerous to breath and has significant warming potential.
We must drastically reduce the amount of methane in our atmosphere as soon as possible to stay below the 1.5 degree warming threshold.

"Greening the Grid" Also Matters

Learn More:

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Climate Change and its health impacts.

WHO: Over 40 million health professionals demand bold health and climate action at COP28.

Vox on How the fossil-fuel lobby weaponized Julia Child’s gas stove.

Yale Climate Connections: To obscure the risks of gas stoves, utilities borrowed from Big Tobacco's playbook.

NPR: How gas utilities used tobacco tactics to avoid gas stove regulations

Volts Podcast: Fine, we're doing gas stoves
Yale Climate Connections: Gas stoves are even worse for our health than previously known, new study finds.

RMI + others 2020 publication: Health effects from gas stoves.
NPR: We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change.
VOX: The next frontier for climate action is the great indoors
NYT: the case for induction cooking
Washington Post: Gas stoves in kitchens pose a risk to public health and the planet, research finds.

Yale Climate Connections: Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?

Carbon Switch has a helpful Induction Stoves & Cooktop Buyer's Guide.
A pilot program in New York recently demonstrated significant air quality benefits from switching from gas to electric stoves.

From Canary Media: Gas stoves are a health hazard - an induction stoves just work better.

The IRA includes a $840 rebate (depending on income) for induction stoves, plus up to $500 more if you’re switching from gas - though it’s not available quite yet. Ready to replace your stove now? Save your receipt! Need to wait? Minimize your health risks by using other electric appliances as much as possible for cooking and using ventilation.

We know the grid has the potential to become cleaner as utilities continue to transition to renewable energy sources.  For instance, from 2005 - 2020, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption in the Montana electric power sector decreased by approximately 38%. And in 2021, renewable energy sources accounted for 63% of Montana’s generating capacity. We must continue the push for investment in solar, wind, hydro and other renewable energy sources and not consider moving to methane gas as part of the solution.

Learn more about oil and gas pollution in Montana from our friends at MEIC. Visit our solar page for more information on adding your own renewable energy!