US Study Shows Replacing Gas Stoves Dramatically Reduces Asthma Hospitalizations

A study conducted in Ohio found that replacing gas stoves and hobs with electric appliances led to a roughly 70% drop in hospital admissions and days missed from school or work among people with poorly controlled asthma. The pilot, originally intended for 1,200 households, was curtailed to 72 homes after funding was withdrawn by the incoming administration, yet measurable benefits were still observed.

Participants’ asthma scores fell from an average of 2.6 to 1.5 on a six‑point scale, a change considered clinically significant. Researchers also recorded a 70% reduction in indoor nitrogen‑dioxide levels, less wheezing, reduced inhaler use, and fewer nighttime asthma awakenings. Lead investigator Prof. Ash Sehgal said the improvement was comparable to, or greater than, effects reported for common asthma medications.

The findings add to growing evidence that indoor air‑quality interventions can provide substantial health gains, suggesting that broader adoption of electric cooking could complement traditional asthma treatments.