Nitrogen dioxide exposure, health outcomes, and associated demographic disparities due to gas and propane combustion by US stoves

Gas and propane stoves emit nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution indoors, but the exposures of different U.S. demographic groups are unknown. We estimate NO₂ exposure and health consequences using emissions and concentration measurements from >100 homes, a room-specific indoor air quality model, epidemiological risk parameters, and statistical sampling of published housing characteristics and occupant behavior. Gas and propane stoves increase long-term NO₂ exposure by an estimated 4.0 ppbv on average across the United States, 75% of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s exposure guideline. This increased exposure may cause approximately 50 thousand cases of current pediatric asthma from long-term NO₂ exposure alone. Short-term NO₂ exposure from typical gas stove use frequently exceeds both World Health Organization and U.S. EPA benchmarks. Residents of residences <800 ft² in size incur 4 times more long-term NO₂ exposure than residents of residences >3000 ft² in size; American Indian/Alaska Native and Black and Hispanic/Latino households incur 60% and 20% more NO₂ exposure, respectively, than the national average.