Certain households carry the greatest burden. Smaller apartments, rental units that lack upgrades, and some rural homes tend to trap more of this gas-phase pollution. Those patterns overlap with existing social and economic disadvantages, so the health impact is not spread evenly across the population. Practical shifts in household technology and ventilation can lower exposures in ways that benefit respiratory health and reduce inequalities.
Exploring how home cooking affects indoor air helps connect everyday choices to long-term wellbeing and fairness. The research points toward solutions—cleaner stoves, better ventilation, targeted policies—that influence who breathes safer air. Read the full article to see the data and imagine how changes in kitchens could expand human potential by protecting health where people live.
Stanford researchers found that gas stoves expose Americans to surprisingly high levels of nitrogen dioxide—often matching or exceeding outdoor pollution. For millions, cooking alone pushes NO2 over long-term safety thresholds. Smaller homes, renters, and rural households face the highest concentrations. Cleaner cooking technologies could substantially reduce the risks.
