Why Gas Stoves Can Affect Indoor Air Quality and How to Reduce Exposure

Experts in food safety, air quality and lung health say that whenever you cook on a gas stove, it is wise to open a window.

Gas stoves can create indoor pollutants in two main ways, Andy Fox, a filtration and indoor air quality specialist at Filtrete, said. One is through high-temperature reactions that produce nitrogen oxides, which irritate the lungs. The other is incomplete combustion, when natural gas does not fully burn and instead gives off pollutants such as carbon monoxide, tiny particles and formaldehyde.

Detwiler told HuffPost that even something as simple as boiling water can release pollutants into the air. He said a gas stove is still burning fuel, and that combustion can produce nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other byproducts, along with small amounts of unburned methane.

He also noted that the pollution does not necessarily come from the food itself. “The important distinction is that these pollutants don’t necessarily come from the food being cooked. They can come from the fuel itself,” Detwiler said.

Dr. Alexander Rabin, a pulmonary care doctor and professor at the University of Michigan Medical School, pointed to a scientific article published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine showing that cooking with gas releases air pollutants, especially nitrogen dioxide. The research also found that proper ventilation, including opening a window, can significantly reduce exposure.

Rabin said nitrogen dioxide can irritate the airways, making it particularly troublesome for people with asthma. Breathing it can contribute to wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. He added that children are a special concern because their lungs are still developing, and people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases such as COPD may also be affected.

Pulmonologist Dr. Gustavo Ferrer said another pollutant released by gas stoves is carbon monoxide. He explained that it is especially dangerous because it interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Heavy exposure can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and, in serious cases, life-threatening poisoning.

How To Keep Your Kitchen Well Ventilated When Cooking

Cooking on an electric stove does not release pollutants into the air in the same way, and it is also more energy efficient. Still, having a gas stove is not a reason to panic. Ferrer said families do not need to be alarmed if they have one; the point is to understand the risks and take practical steps to reduce exposure.

Detwiler said opening a window helps bring in fresh air and can dilute pollutants that build up while cooking. But if the outdoor air is heavily polluted, he noted, windows may not be the best solution, making a strong overhead vent even more important.

Ferrer said the best option is a range hood that vents directly outdoors instead of one that simply recirculates air through a filter. He recommends turning the exhaust fan on before lighting the burner, keeping it on during cooking and letting it run for several minutes afterward. That helps capture pollutants near their source before they spread through the home, which matters especially in small kitchens and places with limited airflow.

Even when only boiling water, the experts recommend using the overhead vent. Ferrer said many people wait until they see smoke or smell food, but that is a mistake. Nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide are invisible, and harmful exposure may not produce a noticeable odor. He advised turning on the fan before cooking starts, using a setting strong enough to catch the cooking plume and leaving it on briefly after the burners are off.

Other Food Safety Tips To Follow When Cooking With A Gas Stove

Rabin said it is also important to check that the stove is not leaking gas when the burners are off, which is one reason a carbon monoxide detector is essential. If you smell gas while the burners are off, he said, you should contact your gas utility right away.

Detwiler also warned against using a gas stove to heat a home. Ferrer agreed, saying that doing so can create dangerous carbon monoxide exposure.

Ferrer said indoor air quality is a key part of respiratory health, but it is often overlooked. People spend much of their lives indoors, he said, and homes should reduce exposure to harmful pollutants rather than add to it without anyone realizing.

That said, using a gas stove is not something to fear. It can be safe as long as the kitchen is well ventilated. Detwiler said a safe kitchen is not only about how food is handled, but also about the equipment used and the environment in which meals are prepared.

Using a hood vent or opening a window while cooking can help keep the kitchen safer and make breathing easier for the whole family.