Study Reveals High Air Pollution and Heat Exposure in Commercial Gas Kitchens
A new peer-reviewed study has found that workers in U.S. commercial kitchens utilizing gas and propane appliances are exposed to air pollution and heat levels exceeding health guidelines. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, was conducted by researchers from the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, and PSE Healthy Energy. It is the first U.S. study to compare air quality and heat levels in restaurant kitchens using gas appliances versus all-electric appliances under real-world conditions. Measurements were taken in 21 gas kitchens, three propane kitchens, and three all-electric kitchens across California, New York, and Pennsylvania. The findings indicate that most gas and propane kitchens exceeded at least one health guideline for pollutant exposure during cooking hours. Specifically, about 70% of gas kitchens surpassed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 1-hour outdoor air standard for nitrogen dioxide. Additionally, carbon mon...
