Gas stove replacement linked to asthma improvement comparable to medication
10 reported
A US study from Ohio found that replacing gas stoves with electric ones led to a 70% drop in hospital admissions and missed work or school days among people with poorly controlled asthma. The publicly owned MetroHealth system began the study in December 2024, but funding was terminated early by the incoming Trump administration, limiting the project to fewer than 100 households instead of the planned 1,200. Researchers completed stove replacements that were under way and analyzed data from 72 homes, finding improvements in asthma symptoms similar to or greater than those seen in clinical trials of common asthma medications. The average asthma score improved from 2.6 to 1.5 on a zero-to-six scale, where a change of 0.5 is considered clinically significant. Air pollution measurements in 44 homes showed nitrogen dioxide dropped by an average of 70%. Over 97% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with their new stoves.
What’s reported
The study found a 70% drop in hospital admissions and days off from work or school after gas stoves were replaced with electric.
MetroHealth in Ohio began the study in December 2024, but funding was terminated early by the incoming Trump administration.
The project was designed for 1,200 people near Cleveland, Ohio, but completed with fewer than 100 households.
Prof Ash Sehgal of Case Western Reserve University led the project; about 20 project staff were laid off.
The scaled-down study analyzed 72 homes; each person was assessed four weeks before and four weeks after the stove replacement.
The average asthma score improved from 2.6 to 1.5 on a zero-to-six scale; a change of 0.5 is clinically significant.
Improvements included fewer hospital visits, fewer days off school or work, less wheezing, less use of reliver inhalers, and fewer nighttime awakenings.
Air pollution measured in 44 homes showed nitrogen dioxide dropped 70% on average.
Over 97% of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with their new stove.
An evidence review more than 10 years ago concluded gas cooking increased the risk of asthma in children.
Key figures
Prof Ash Sehgal, project leader, Case Western Reserve University
Angela Bland, 38-year-old resident of Akron, Ohio
Dr Tiffany Yang, NHS Born in Bradford (not involved in the US research)
Sources: The Guardian
