Debunking Myths: Natural Gas and Respiratory Health

7/1/2024

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the safety of natural gas in our homes, particularly regarding its potential link to asthma. However, a recent study funded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in The Lancet Medical Journal has provided informative and educational news: heating and cooking with natural gas stoves is not associated with asthma in children or adults.

Key Findings from The Lancet Study

The comprehensive study examined the health risks of cooking and heating with natural gas compared to electricity and other fuels. The results were clear and conclusive:

• No Link to Asthma: The study found no association between the use of natural gas and the incidence of asthma, wheezing, coughing, or breathlessness.
• Contradicts Previous Claims: These findings contradict earlier claims suggesting that natural gas use in homes could contribute to asthma.

This major study was funded by WHO, a leading global health institution under the United Nations, which includes over 8,000 professionals such as doctors, epidemiologists, and scientists. The research was carried out by scientists and researchers with advanced degrees from prestigious universities from around the world.

Addressing Misconceptions

Despite the robust findings from The Lancet, some false claims about the safety of natural gas persist. Recently, Science Advances published a report that continued to push the narrative that natural gas use causes asthma. However, this report has been criticized for its flawed analysis. The report did not adequately account for factors such as an individual's body mass index (BMI) and smoking status, which are critical variables in health studies. Additionally, the conclusions drawn by the report were not supported by the evidence it cited.

As your natural gas provider, we want to ensure that you have accurate and up-to-date information about the safety of natural gas. Natural gas for heating and cooking in your home is safe and does not increase the risk of asthma. This blog post provides an overview of the key findings from the WHO-funded study published in The Lancet. Want to learn more about the study? Visit: https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2213-2600%2823%2900427-7 for more information.