Impact of Kitchen Natural Gas Use on Indoor NO 2 Levels and Human Health: A Case Study in Two European Cities.

Natural gas (NG) is commonly used in kitchens, powering stoves, ovens, and other appliances. While it is known for its efficiency and convenience, NG contributes to the release of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and can have significant implications for human health. In this study, the importance of the use of NG in kitchens on human exposure to NO₂ was analyzed. An extensive literature review in the field was conducted, and the NO₂ levels were assessed in kitchens with NG cookers in Aveiro and electric cookers in Porto, both in Portugal. Higher levels of NO₂ were found in kitchens in Aveiro, where NO₂ levels outdoors are lower than in Porto. This pollutant can spread to other rooms, especially when ventilation is lacking, which is particularly concerning during colder seasons and at night. As around 70% of the time is spent at home, this can have a significant impact on human exposure to NO₂. Therefore, although Aveiro has low levels of NO₂ outdoors, its population may be exposed to much higher levels of this pollutant than the Porto population, a city with air quality issues, but predominantly using electric cookers. This finding emphasizes the need for the stricter regulation of NG use indoors to protect human health and also suggests a shift in human health protection policies from mere monitoring/control of outdoor air quality to a comprehensive assessment of human exposure, including exposure to indoor air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]