Gas cooking and Asthma

I'm sure you would have heard about the ban on gas connections for newly built properties in Victoria from jan 2024. Whilst the move is mainly aimed at reducing green house gas emissions overall, it will have an indirect positive effect on the lung health of Victorians given the effect of gas cooking on Asthma.

Let's see why reducing gas cooking is important for lung health and in particular Asthma sufferers. (courtesy- Australian Asthma foundation).

GAS APPLIANCES

Gas is an invisible but common trigger for both adults and kids with asthma. Research shows gas cooktops and heaters can be a major source of indoor air pollution that impacts the human body including the lungs. Almost 38% of the Australian homes use gas for cooking. Gas cooktops are known to produce contaminants (pollutants) such as nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and certain forms of particulate matter, like PM2.5. These airborne pollutants can irritate the airways and trigger asthma symptoms.

The pollutants from gas are invisible in the air and mostly odourless, which makes them hard to detect or recognise as a threat to your health. Symptoms of exposure to gas may include breathlessness, wheeze, tight feeling in the chest, cough or worsening of these symptoms. To reduce your risk of gas exposure in your home, consider:

• increasing ventilation- such as modern extraction fans over gas stoves, flues for gas heaters and simple measures like opening windows

• ensuring your extraction fans are regularly serviced

• switching your gas appliances to electric options like induction if possible