For millions living with asthma, managing symptoms is an ongoing challenge – and for many, that means juggling medication and lifestyle changes. But what if switching to an electric stove could offer significant relief? New research from the US suggests just that: by swapping gas stoves for electric alternatives, individuals with poorly controlled asthma may experience benefits comparable to those of some prescribed medications.
The Ohio-based study, led by Professor Ash Sehgal of Case Western Reserve University, aimed to assess the impact of gas stove replacement on asthma in 1,200 households. Although funding was curtailed early, the team completed replacements already underway and analysed data from 72 homes. The results were striking: average asthma scores improved from 2.6 to 1.5 on a six-point scale – with an improvement of just 0.5 considered clinically significant.
Not only did participants experience fewer hospital visits, reduced reliance on reliever inhalers, and fewer night-time awakenings due to asthma, but indoor air pollution in the participating homes also decreased dramatically. Measuring nitrogen dioxide levels in 44 homes showed an average drop of 70% following the switch to electric cooking – a key byproduct of gas combustion known to irritate respiratory systems.
The magnitude of these findings is significant: according to Professor Sehgal, improvements in asthma symptoms were “similar to – or even greater than – those reported in clinical trials of commonly used asthma medications.” This is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests the benefits are unlikely to be due to a placebo effect. Dr. Tiffany Yang from NHS Born in Bradford echoes this sentiment, highlighting that reducing indoor air pollution can have meaningful health benefits for people with asthma.
The study's findings resonate strongly in the UK, where concerns about indoor air quality and respiratory health are long-standing. An evidence review from over a decade ago concluded that gas cooking increases the risk of asthma in children – with an estimated 40,000 early deaths each year across the EU and UK attributed to gas cooking. These statistics underscore the potential public health co-benefits of improving indoor air quality through measures like replacing gas stoves.
Participants in the Ohio study reported high satisfaction rates with their new electric stoves – a sentiment mirrored in a pilot stove replacement project in the UK. As governments and housing providers invest in improving housing stock, it's crucial that indoor air quality is considered alongside energy efficiency and decarbonisation to ensure meaningful health benefits for those most at risk.