Gas Stoves in 40+ million U.S. Residences Leak Methane and NO2 Reducing Air Quality, Increasing Respiratory Irritants

REPORT.  From ASC publications.

Natural gas stoves in >40 million U.S. residences release methane (CH₄)─a potent greenhouse gas─through post-meter leaks and incomplete combustion.

We quantified methane released in 53 homes during all phases of stove use: steady-state-off (appliance not in use), steady-state-on (during combustion), and transitory periods of ignition and extinguishment.

We estimated that natural gas stoves emit 0.8–1.3% of the gas they use as unburned methane and that total U.S. stove emissions are 28.1 [95% confidence interval: 18.5, 41.2] Gg CH₄ year^–1.

More than three-quarters of methane emissions we measured originated during steady-state-off.

Using a 20-year timeframe for methane, annual methane emissions from all gas stoves in U.S. homes have a climate impact comparable to the annual carbon dioxide emissions of 500 000 cars.

In addition to methane emissions, co-emitted health-damaging air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO_x) are released into home air and can trigger respiratory diseases.

In 32 homes, we measured NO_x (NO and NO₂) emissions and found them to be linearly related to the amount of natural gas burned (r² = 0.76; p ≪ 0.01). Emissions averaged 21.7 [20.5, 22.9] ng NO_x J^–1, comprised of 7.8 [7.1, 8.4] ng NO₂ J^–1 and 14.0 [12.8, 15.1] ng NO J^–1.

Our data suggest that families who don’t use their range hoods or who have poor ventilation can surpass the 1-h national standard of NO₂ (100 ppb) within a few minutes of stove usage, particularly in smaller kitchens.

Author: Coastside Buzz

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