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recent scientific report on “Harmful Effects of Gas Cookers on Health and the Environment has revealed a nexus between premature death and fumes from gas cookers as no fewer than 39,959 people have died in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The paper discusses the harmful effects of gas cookers on health and the environment, as reviewed in a scientific report, thereby suggesting electrification of homes.
According to the research, indiscriminate use of gas cookers in homes is associated with a number of risks, including health risks and environmental impact.
Research presented to the UK Parliament highlights the link between gas cooking and respiratory issues, especially asthma in children. The paper reveals how toxic emissions from gas cookers are associated with thousands of premature deaths across Europe and the UK.
The report also dwells on the environmental impact of fumes from gas cookers, emphasising their role in air pollution. It states that poor ventilation and extended use worsen the effects, “leading to higher exposure to harmful fumes.”
To curb avoidable deaths and other consequential effects, experts during the presentation advocated the right policy and solutions, promoting transitioning to electric cooking to reduce these health and environmental risks. The event included discussions on successful implementations, such as Manchester’s adoption of induction cookers.
The gathering considered the legislative and Industry Involvement of various stakeholders, including members of Parliament, health organisations, and appliance manufacturers, who participated in the discussion, to explore ways to electrify homes and improve public health.
According to Science X, Juana Mari Delgado Saborit, a researcher at the Universitat Jaume I, participated as an expert in a presentation on public health problems and the effects of gas cooking on the climate at the UK Parliament as part of the event “Policy pathways to electrify cooking for public health and the planet“.
In her speech, the coordinator of the research group Perinatal Epidemiology, Environmental Health and Clinical Research helped to put the magnitude of the problem into perspective by providing figures on the number of children with asthma and premature deaths associated with the use of gas cookers and highlighted the need for measures and policies to reduce emissions from these appliances.
While experts at international stage are busy discussing facing out gas cooker and embracing electrify cooking for public health, health and energy stakeholders are worried that a gas cooker is still the most common means of cooking in Nigeria.
