Electric stoves can significantly reduce asthma symptoms, new research suggests

Homeowners around the world are increasingly replacing gas stoves with electric alternatives, citing improved energy efficiency, lower indoor nitrogen dioxide emissions and a reduced risk of gas-related accidents. A new study suggests the transition may also offer significant health benefits for people living with asthma.

Research published in early July by an American hospital and academic medical centre found that people with asthma experienced measurable improvements in their breathing after replacing gas stoves with electric models.

Dr Ashwini Sehgal, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University and one of the study's researchers, said in an article for the nonprofit publication The Conversation that this is the first study to specifically examine whether replacing gas stoves with electric models can help reduce asthma symptoms. The findings suggest that making the switch could improve respiratory health for people with asthma.

In a piece written for the outlet, Sehgal explained that researchers selected electric induction stoves because they heat up and cool down quickly while also being easier to clean than traditional electric coil stoves. Although both are powered by electricity, induction stoves use an electromagnetic field to heat cookware directly, whereas conventional electric stoves generate heat through electric elements.

The study was conducted by The MetroHealth System hospital in partnership with six community organisations in the US state of Ohio. Researchers monitored indoor air quality over seven days before and after replacing gas stoves with electric models, measuring nitrogen dioxide — a harmful gas released during gas cooking that can irritate the lungs and worsen respiratory conditions.

Following the switch, indoor nitrogen dioxide levels fell by around 70%. According to Dr Sehgal, participants also experienced a noticeable improvement in asthma symptoms, with their condition improving from moderate to mild. The health benefits were comparable to, and in some cases greater than, those typically reported in clinical trials of widely prescribed asthma medications.

While electric stoves appear to offer considerable health benefits, gas stoves still remain the financially more affordable option in many countries. For households that continue using gas stoves, researchers recommend improving kitchen ventilation by opening nearby windows while cooking to help reduce indoor emissions. Using an air purifier can also improve indoor air quality by filtering cooking particles and harmful gases.

By Nazrin Sadigova