Switching to electric stoves could cut asthma attacks as effectively as medicine, study finds

Published on 25/07/2026 - 8:30 GMT+2 Switching from natural gas stoves to electric ones could be as effective as common medication for asthma sufferers, according to a new study. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Cooking on natural gas stoves is a major source of indoor air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and may contribute to asthma attacks. Burning gas while cooking also produces other nitrogen oxides, which are released into the environment and can trigger asthma flare-ups. Switching from gas to electric stoves led to a decrease in indoor pollution – indoor levels of nitrogen dioxide decreased by 70% — which led to improvements in asthma symptoms among participants, Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in the United States found. “The results were striking: Improvements in asthma symptoms following stove change were similar to – or even greater than – those reported in clinical trials of commonly used asthma medications,” Ashwini Sehgal, co-author of the study, wrote in The Conversation. After the stove change, participants reported fewer breathing problems and fewer limits on daily activities and less need for “rescue” inhalers. The researchers also found that emergency room visits and hospitalisations for asthma fell by 70% among the participants and missed days of work or school because of asthma dropped by about 80%. “We chose electric induction stoves because they heat up and cool down rapidly, and they are safer and easier to clean than electric coil stoves,” said Sehgal. He added that switching stoves is not a cure for asthma and may not help everyone. “People with asthma should continue working with their physicians, taking prescribed medications and reducing exposure to other asthma triggers, such as cigarette smoke, dust mites, pollen and viral respiratory infections.” The authors also noted that the cost of replacing gas stoves with electric stoves may not be affordable for everyone and is likely to be a barrier for low-income communities. “But given the potential cost savings from reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations, it might make sense for governments or health insurers to subsidize the costs of replacing gas stoves with electric ones for patients with poorly controlled asthma,” noted Sehgal. The study involved 85 participants with poorly controlled asthma. Initially, the project was awarded three years of funding by the US Environmental Protection Agency through its Community Change Grants Program in December 2024. However, the Trump Administration terminated the project early and left researchers unable to enrol new participants after May 2025.