Gas stoves contribute to hazardous indoor air quality
About a third of US households cook primarily with gas. It’s common to have those burners running for a while, a few times a day. But even minimal use of burning fossil fuel can have a devastating effect on your home’s indoor air quality.
In a review of decades of science by the Rocky Mountain Institute and multiple environmental advocacy groups, experts noted that fossil-fuel-burning stoves are likely exposing tens of millions of Americans to air pollution levels that would be illegal if they were outside.
Despite the risks, there are still no set standards for indoor air quality. It’s a problem that may present itself more clearly these days, with large numbers of people spending time indoors, and cooking at home.
According to the new report, gas stoves are making people sick
Gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, in addition to the particle pollution that all types of stoves produce. Older, poorly maintained stoves can be even worse contributors to air quality.
Even slight increases in short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can increase asthma risk in children. One analysis found that children in homes with gas stoves have a 42% higher chance of having asthma symptoms. Another in Australia attributed 12.3% of all childhood asthma to gas stoves. Nitrogen dioxide also makes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worse and may be linked to heart problems, diabetes and cancer.
Strategies to improve your air
If you cook with a gas stove, or have a gas heater in your home, there are some ways to mitigate the pollution being created. You can open windows, cook on your back burners, use a quality exhaust hood, install a carbon monoxide detector, and run an air purifier with a True HEPA filter.
Air purifiers like Airmega can help protect your family
One of the best ways to protect yourself from the negative effects associated with indoor air pollution is to use a True HEPA-filter air purifier, like the Coway Airmega. True HEPA filters capture and reduce up to 99.97* percent of particles 0.3 microns in the air, including pollen, pollutants and other allergens. What’s especially useful about Airmega is it can constantly monitor your air for contaminants. When the unit senses an increase in air contamination, it can automatically speed up the air purification process and remove harmful particles. Even in a home where gas is used for every meal, Airmega can help provide safe, clean indoor air.
*Based on True HEPA filter material standard. Actual performance determined by indoor air quality and operation of unit.
Disclaimers
1 Airmega air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with Airmega Aim, 50, 100, 150, Tower AP-1216L, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
2Our HEPA filter complies with IEST-RP-CC007 standards at speed level 1 as tested by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance). SGS's test report only reflects SGS's evaluation of the sample and does not reflect the evaluation of the batch of goods from which the sample was taken. Tested with Airmega 100, 150, 160, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 250 Art, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
3 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to JEM 1467: 2015 condition, the concentration of acetic acid was proven to be reduced up to 99.5% in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on actual environment. Tested with Airmega 150, Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
4 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022, showed result of over 99.5% removal rate of common household gases including Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Acetic acid, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) within 30 minutes. Results may vary in different environments and not all odors or gas particles may be removed. Tested with Airmega MightyS AP-1512HHS, 250S, 300S, 400S, 350, 450
5 Test conducted using Coway Allergen filter media (5×5 cm) placed in a polyethylene bag. The allergen solution and sample were immersed in 2 mL of phosphate buffer (100 ng/mL) prior to the reaction and heat-sealed to specimen size. The reaction was maintained at 4°C for 24 hours. Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. conducted the test using ELISA to measure allergen concentration. Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
6 Removal rates of Ammonia (NH₃) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) were tested in a 1 m³ chamber under EL608:2023 conditions for 30 minutes. Gas Detector Tubes were used for measurement, and testing was conducted by KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories). Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
7 Reduction rates of Naphthalene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide were tested using the Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH in 1㎥ chamber, following JEM-1467:2015 standards. Tests were conducted by Intertek. Actual performance may vary depending on the living environment. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
9 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted with Methyl mercaptan, Isovaleraldehyde, Isovaleric acid in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber with a test time of 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of over 99.5% was achieved. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
10 Tested by the Guangzhou Institute of Microbiology, exposed the filter media to protein solutions for 24 hours under ISO 4333-2022 standard. The results showed strong reduction performance: >99.79% for pollen, >99.60% for dog allergen, >99.90% for cat allergen, and >99.80% for dust mites matter allergen. Actual results may vary depending on room size, airflow, and pollutant levels. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
11 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber for 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of >99.5% was achieved for Formaldehyde and Toluene in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
12 Tested by Intertek. The evaluation was conducted against designated test materials: Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. The test was performed in a sealed 1.0×1.0×1.0 m (1.0 m³) odor chamber at a test room temperature of (23±2)°C (measured between 23.6∼23.9°C) and a test room humidity of (45±5)% R.H. (measured between 40∼48)% Relative Humidity. It met the odor removal rate of ≥99.9% for Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
* Order Acceptance and Right to Cancel: The receipt of an order confirmation does not constitute Coway’s acceptance of an order. Coway reserves the right, at its sole discretion and at any time after receiving your order, to accept, decline, or cancel your order for any reason. If Coway cancels your order after you have already been billed, we will notify you via the email address provided and issue a full refund of any billed amounts immediately.
**Shipping Policy & Restrictions: Free standard ground shipping is available only for qualifying orders shipped to standard residential and commercial addresses within the Canadian provinces. Please note that we do not ship to P.O. Boxes. We reserve the right to exclude and cancel free shipping to the Canadian Territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut), as well as certain remote locations or postal codes—including remote areas within British Columbia (BC)—that qualify as remote regions under carrier guidelines. In such cases, Coway reserves the right to cancel the order and issue a full refund.
