Households are being warned about the risks of using their gas hob, especially with windows closed during the winter.
Christmas is a time when the oven is called into action in a big way, with the hob burning away to cook potatoes, parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and all sorts of trimmings while the turkey roasts in the oven.
At the same time, families are set to pack around tables indoors while windows remain firmly closed in freezing cold outdoor temperatures.
But for the many households who cook with gas rather than electricity, failing to properly ventilate your kitchen could put you at risk of various health problems this December.
According to Clean Air Hub UK, cooking with gas “releases air pollutants that harm human health and the environment”.
It warns: “Gas cookers are a major source of indoor air pollution and the main source of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the home.
“Gas use in a typical kitchen can produce indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution that exceeds World Health Organisation air quality guidelines, UK Health and Safety Executive limits for indoor air pollution, and the legal UK outdoor air pollution standards.
“Gas cooking is linked to asthma in children and adults, decrements in pulmonary function, respiratory illness in adults, as well as dementia and cognitive decline in adults.”
It adds: “Gas hobs can produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which can linger in the home. Gas cooking appliances can also leak pollutants when not in use, including methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and benzene (a known human carcinogen).
“Exposure to nitrogen dioxide – a primary pollutant from gas cooking – causes various harmful effects on the lungs. Effects include inflammation of the airways, reduced lung function and increased asthma attacks and symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, especially in children. There is growing evidence that pollutants from gas cooking can negatively impact adults, including the brain, respiratory, and nervous systems.
“Research suggests that the impact of gas cooking on the burden of childhood asthma is comparable to that of second-hand smoke. Gas cooking appliances and the concentration of nitrogen dioxide during the first three months of life have also been linked to impaired memory and verbal development and a higher risk of ADHD symptoms in toddlers.”
For those still cooking with gas, it added that there are ways to make it safer – including venting your kitchen or opening windows.
It said: “Properly ventilate your kitchen when cooking, preferably with a functioning range hood vented to the outside, by mechanical ventilation, or by opening windows. Consider switching to an electric appliance when and where possible. Ensure that you service gas appliances once a year. Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in kitchens and nearby rooms; use devices that detect low levels.
“Use as much ventilation as possible during, and at least 10 minutes after, using your gas appliance; this should include opening windows to create a through-draught to help disperse the pollution.
“If your gas appliance includes a fan, ensure that this is clean, well-maintained and has an outdoor vent.
“Minimise exposure to gas cooking emissions using plug-in appliances, such as an electric kettle, microwave, rice cooker or air fryer.”
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