gas heaters/cooktops

Article in the Australian Journal of General Practice summarising the increased risk of asthma associated with gas cooking, how to recognise the clinical implications in children and adults with asthma, and how to advocate for them.
Some reported facts: (please refer to article for exact references)
– 65% of houses in Australia use gas for cooking or heating
– The most important gas-related health effects are due to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO)
– an estimated 30% of the risk of asthma for a child with current asthma living in a home with a gas stove comes from the stove
– across the community in Australia, 12% of childhood asthma is attributable to the use of gas stoves
– the risk of persistent asthma was also increased in Tasmanian aged 43-53 years living with gas heating and cooking, with OR 2.64 (1.22–5.70)
– questions about indoor gas exposure should be part of asthma review, and strategies discussed to reduce exposure