Does switching from gas stove to electric reduce gas pollution and help asthma patients? A study has shared some information.

Switching from gas stove to electric might not just lead to a healthier environment, it may also make you save from an asthmatic episode, claims a new study. A study released in early July by the MetroHealth System, a hospital and academic medical center in Northeast Ohio, in partnership with six community organizations, found that people with asthma experienced improvements in their breathing after replacing gas stoves with electric ones.

Dr. Ashwini Sehgal, a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University and one of the study's researchers, noted in an article for the nonprofit publication The Conversation that this is the first research to specifically examine whether replacing gas stoves with electric models can help reduce asthma symptoms. The findings indicate that making this household change could contribute to better respiratory health for individuals living with asthma.

In the magazine The Conversation, Sehgal wrote that electric induction stoves were chosen due to their ability to heat and cool down rapidly. They are also easier to clean than electric coil stoves. While induction stoves are powered by electricity, they utilise an electromagnetic field to warm up your cookware, whereas electric stoves rely on electricity to do so.


Researchers monitored indoor air quality for seven days before and after replacing gas stoves with electric models. They measured nitrogen dioxide, a harmful gas released during gas stove use that can irritate the lungs and worsen respiratory conditions.

Significant Health Benefits Observed

Following the transition to electric stoves, indoor nitrogen dioxide concentrations dropped by around 70%. According to researcher Dr. Sehgal, participants experienced a noticeable improvement in asthma, with symptoms easing from moderate to mild. The health gains were comparable to, and in some cases exceeded, the benefits typically reported in clinical trials of widely prescribed asthma medications.

The study also found substantial improvements in daily life. Missed work and school days declined by nearly 80%, while emergency room visits and hospital admissions related to asthma fell by approximately 70%, highlighting the potential health advantages of reducing indoor exposure to pollution from gas stoves.

What If You Are Unable To Afford An Electric Stove?

Not many households can afford an electric stove. If you are among those, here’s some steps you can take to reduce emissions including smoke

• Encourage ventilation by opening your kitchen windows
• Invest in a quality air purifier. It can filter out pesky cooking particles and gases, leaving the air more pure.