Media release: Maryland PIRG holds ‘pollution-free cooking’ event

Maryland PIRG Foundation held a”Pollution-Free Cooking” demonstration on Wednesday where participants heard from a Hopkin’s professor about the health impacts of pollution from gas stoves and saw a professional chef demonstrate how to make one of his favorite holiday recipes on an induction stove.

Cooking with gas produces dangerous levels of indoor air pollution. As a result, children living in homes where people cook meals with gas-powered appliances have a 42% higher chance of experiencing asthma symptoms.

“When I learned my son had asthma, I started to worry about using my gas stove,” said Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr. “I’m hopeful that federal incentives will mean more Marylanders can make the switch to electric induction stoves to protect our children and reduce air pollution for all of us.”

The Inflation Reduction Act includes $4.5 billion in funding for states to provide rebates and tax credits for new electric appliances including stoves, cooktops and wall ovens. Induction cooking is steadily winning over Americans as the latest and greatest in cooking technology. Efficient, precise and safe, cooking on induction stoves provides numerous benefits not just for passionate chefs and food lovers, but for the overall health and wellbeing of Maryland families.

“Those blue flames from your gas stove emit many of the same pollutants as a car tailpipe, and no one is excited about breathing car exhaust,” said Peter DeCarlo, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Things to know about electrifying your cooking:

• Electric and induction appliances vary in price and the Inflation Reduction Act includes money (up to $840) to help consumers pay for electric or induction cooktops, ranges and stoves.
• Property owners may need to update their electrical panel, but these costs (up to $4,000) may also be covered by the Inflation Reduction Act through tax credits.
• For consumers not ready to fully commit to an induction cooktop, there are portable plug-in options that are very affordable.

Although growing evidence shows that gas stoves fill kitchens and homes with hazardous air pollution, Maryland PIRG Foundation released a new survey which found that major retailers were largely failing to warn potential customers of gas stove health concerns – and safety measures that could protect their health

###