Air

Is cooking on gas bad for indoor air?

Short answer

Cooking on gas releases nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Always use the extractor hood and ventilate. WHO advises at most 10 µg/m³ NO2 as an annual mean.

Explanation

A gas flame produces NO2, which irritates the airways. Research links cooking on gas to a higher asthma risk in children. Good extraction to the outside and ventilation greatly reduce exposure.

Rules of thumb

• Always switch the extractor hood on while cooking. [SW-S30]
• WHO guideline NO2: annual mean 10 µg/m³, daily mean 25 µg/m³. [SW-S17]
• Ventilate daily, also after cooking. [SW-S28]

Pitfalls

• A recirculating hood mainly filters grease and does not remove NO2 and moisture to the outside. (practical tip, not a source value)

Search terms

These search terms are in Dutch; only terms that also find a topic in English are links.

gasfornuis NO2 afzuigkap astma koken

Read also

• How do I air my home without losing much heat?
• What CO2 level is good at home?

Sources

1. SW-S17 COMEAP statement: response to publication of the WHO Air quality guidelines 2021 — UK Government (COMEAP) (Reference date 2026-09-27)
2. SW-S28 Kan koken op gas astma bij kinderen veroorzaken? — Gezondheid en Wetenschap (CEBAM) (Reference date 2026-09-27)
3. SW-S30 Tips voor beter en energiezuiniger ventileren — Milieu Centraal (Reference date 2026-09-27)

Reference date: 2026-09-27 · Translated with AI from the Dutch original.