Survey of 663 homes in DC and Montgomery County finds 63% of homes tested exceed EPA’s outdoor health standard for nitrogen dioxide
Media Contact: Allison MacMunn, allison@sunstonestrategies.org
WASHINGTON – A new report from the Beyond Gas coalition reveals that 63% of the 663 kitchens tested in Washington, DC, and Montgomery County recorded nitrogen dioxide levels indoors above the Environmental Protection Agency’s health standard of 100 parts per billion. In DC, 77% of kitchens exceeded this limit, with average readings reaching 181 ppb—nearly double the recommended threshold.
“Gas stoves are silently polluting our air indoors, where we spend 90% of our time,” says Barbara Briggs, lead author of the report and member of Beyond Gas DC. “This investigation makes it clear that the gas we burn in our kitchens is putting our health at risk, especially for children and those with respiratory conditions. Yet right now, communities are facing an unprecedented attack on our ability to keep residents safe with baseless lawsuits seeking to undermine healthy building standards and impede progress. Supporting families to upgrade our homes with cleaner, high efficiency electric appliances such as induction cooktops is not just important for the climate, it’s a public health necessity.”
The report, Cooking Up Danger: Community Study Reveals Hazardous Nitrogen Dioxide Levels in DC and Maryland Kitchens, reveals that residents across the DC metro area who live with gas stoves breathe indoor air pollution levels well above EPA’s health standard for one hour of outdoor exposure. In 663 homes, researchers had residents turn on their gas stoves and then measured nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations after 15 and 30 minutes of stove use, and 15 minutes after the stove was turned off. In some instances, researchers remained for several hours to make additional measurements. Not only did NO2 concentrations remain high for hours after testing concluded, researchers recorded elevated NO2 levels throughout homes, including in upstairs bedrooms. Low-income households may be at greater risk, as homes with small, enclosed kitchens recorded the highest concentrations of NO2, but testers recorded elevated levels of air pollution in a variety of kitchen sizes and layouts.
“Everyone deserves to breathe healthy air. Our evidence from testing hundreds of homes with high levels of nitrogen dioxide indoors shows that cooking with gas-burning stoves is unhealthy,” said Adama Moussa, an organizer for Action in Montgomery. “This is a public health crisis, especially for children, older adults and those with respiratory conditions. We need to convert to electric appliances so we can have healthier air and safer communities, and we need to make sure that renters are not left behind as we convert to cleaner, healthier induction cooktops and HVAC systems.”
Research shows that children in homes with gas stoves face a 42% higher risk of developing asthma symptoms, and nationwide gas stoves have been attributed to 12.7% of childhood asthma cases. NO2 exposure is also associated with respiratory issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases, as well as developmental and cognitive problems in children. Research from Stanford University has found gas stoves – even when turned off – emit benzene, a hazardous pollutant linked to blood cancers, at levels higher than secondhand smoke.
“Our homes should be a refuge, but as this report shows, as long as residents continue to rely on burning dirty methane gas at home, our health will be at risk,” said Michelle Hall, a resident of River Terrace and member of Washington Interfaith Network. “Our leaders here in River Terrace and Maryland have begun to invest in programs that help low-income residents adopt healthier, more efficient appliances, but we must do more to invest in healthier communities. This means investing in programs that provide financial assistance and resources for families to move off gas, particularly in low-income and historically marginalized communities.”
Low-income and minority households may face higher exposure due to poor ventilation and higher prevalence of asthma and other pre-existing conditions. More than 10% of District residents have asthma, including almost 16,000 children, and children in Ward 8 are 10 times more likely to go to the hospital due to asthma than children in wealthier parts of the city.
“This research, conducted over two years in hundreds of kitchens across the region, is the latest evidence that the gas industry’s attempt to cast methane gas as a cleaner alternative is a lie, and we’re paying the price in the form of more polluted air and continued climate pollution from our homes and buildings,” said Katie Meyer, a clean energy campaign representative with the Sierra Club DC Chapter. “It’s time for both DC and Maryland to turn the page and invest in a future where parents don’t have to worry about their child developing asthma every time they cook dinner.”
For residents, the report recommends increasing ventilation while cooking to reduce NO2 levels, using electric appliances already in the home, or adopting low-cost portable induction cooktops to minimize the use of gas-burning stoves. DC and Maryland can also offer rebates and incentives to help upgrade to electric alternatives such as electric ranges or induction cooktops. The Healthy Homes Act, passed in DC in 2024, allocates funding to help low-income residents upgrade to highly efficient electric equipment, such as induction cooktops and electric panel upgrades. Report authors recommend building on this legislation by prioritizing policies that accelerate the transition from gas appliances to efficient electric alternatives in homes and public buildings. The report also suggests increasing funding for public health programs aimed at reducing the impacts of indoor air pollution.
Beyond Gas is a coalition of interfaith, housing, and climate advocates working to ensure that clean and affordable energy is available to all residents in DC and Maryland. We advocate for building electrification to lower household utility bills, improve indoor air quality and public health, and cut climate pollution.
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