IET Real Estate Los Angeles Blog

In Los Angeles, we hear a lot of concern about outdoor air quality. There's the smog in the air from all the LA traffic, and when a wildfire hits, you can actually see the smoke clouding up the skies. One thing you rarely hear about, though, is the quality of the air inside our homes, despite the fact that it's what we breathe in the most. 

In fact, there are no federal guidelines controlling indoor air pollution, despite mounting data indicating just how dangerous it is. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.”

One major culprit contributing to the harmful air quality in your home is your gas stove.

We'll try not to get too scientific here, but research shows that gas stoves emit pollutants like the deadly PM2.5, along with nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. You've likely heard the dangers of gas stoves causing carbon monoxide poisoning which generally happens due to some kind of malfunction with the appliance or someone leaving a burner on.  Carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly, but even low-level exposure from everyday cooking can exacerbate health issues in high-risk individuals, including those with cardiovascular diseases. 

Another pollutant, nitrogen dioxide, is particularly harmful to children. Nitrogen dioxide has been linked to an increase in asthma severity in kids. For children under 4 years old, prolonged exposure can negatively impact their neuropsychological development.

So what can you do to protect your family from gas stove pollution? Unfortunately, if you rent, your options might be limited. The best you can do is to make sure your home is well-ventilated whenever you're using it. For homeowners, seriously consider making the switch to electric stoves. There are plenty of affordable options out there, and you can consider it an investment in the health of you and your family. 

Want to learn more about how to keep your home and family safe? Check out our other blog post "How to Prepare for the Next Big Earthquake." And if you're looking to buy or sell a house in the Los Angeles area, email us or give us a call at (323) 412-9060.