In the Media

A new report reveals the unexpected home appliance that’s causing major health problems — and it’s not just gas stovesGas appliances — including water heaters, furnaces, clothes dryers, fireplaces, air conditioners, and space heaters — run on methane-based “natural gas.” And according to Drew Michanowicz, a scientist at research institute PSE Healthy Energy, all samples of natural gas contain “a small suite of hazardous air pollutants that clearly we would not want to be exposed to.” These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde, particulate matter, and other substances.

Agencies defer to each other in search for answers to Rutledge area gas wells"There actually has not been a lot of study done on abandoned wells and their contribution to poor health outcomes," Seth Shonkoff, executive director of PSE Health Energy, said. Shonkoff said experts agree that being under a kilometer away from an active gas well is linked with respiratory issues and adverse birth outcomes.

Should You Replace Your Gas Stove With an Electric One? Here’s What Chefs and Scientists SayThe debate over gas vs. electric stoves is hotter than ever. But now that professional chefs and scientists are weighing in, there’s a clear frontrunner.

Black, Latinx Californians Face Highest Exposure to Oil and Gas WellsA new study appearing in the March 23 edition of the journal GeoHealth finds that these Californians are disproportionately Black, Latinx or low-income, and Black Californians are more likely to live near the most intensive oil and gas operations.

Black, Latinx Californians Face Highest Exposure to Oil and Gas Wells“The weight of scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that people living near oil and gas development have a greater risk of respiratory problems and adverse birth outcomes,” said Seth B.C. Shonkoff, executive director of PSE Healthy Energy and an associate researcher at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health. “Attempts to undermine or delay California’s landmark setback law contradict the science and increase public health risks, particularly for Black and brown communities.”

Black and Latino Californians Most Exposed to Oil and Gas WellsMore than one million Californians live near active oil or gas wells, potentially exposing them to drilling-related pollution that can contribute to asthma, premature births and a variety of other health problems.

Bay Area Sets NOx Emissions Standards For Gas Water Heaters & Furnaces, Effectively Ending Sales Starting In 2027Big news for clean air last week. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted amendments requiring the elimination of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new water heaters by 2027 and new furnaces by 2029.

Los californianos negros y latinos son los más expuestos a los pozos de petróleo y gasMás de un millón de californianos viven cerca de pozos activos de petróleo o gas, lo cual los puede exponer a contaminantes relacionados con asma, los partos prematuros y otros problemas de salud.

The Gas Stove Wars are Far From OverPSE researcher Eric Lebel said they were interested in how much emissions came from the stove, so they had to be sure it wasn’t escaping the room or outside. They conducted the research in an enclosed space by tenting the kitchen (these were kitchens in real homes). That gave them the conclusion that families who don’t use range hoods or have poor ventilation can blow past these one-hour standards of nitrogen dioxide within a few minutes.

First NV gas plant in 15 years gets expedited approval, customers likely to get the billPeaker plants are also disproportionately located near or in low-income communities and communities of color, exposing families to air and water pollution, according to a recent analysis by Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy, a non-profit research institute.

Gas Stoves Pose Health Risks. Are Gas Furnaces and Other Appliances Safe to Use?Gas stoves have become an unlikely front line in the culture wars thanks to growing awareness of their contribution to health problems like childhood asthma, not to mention their links to climate change. But the other gas-fueled appliances found in many American homes — water heaters, furnaces, and clothes dryers, to name a few — have received far less attention, although they also pose risks to public health and the environment.

Best Portable Induction Cooktops 2023: Replace Your Gas BurnersAlso, a PSE Healthy Energy Study(Opens in a new tab) found benzene in 99% of the samples it took from California homes, and later found that gas stoves can emit as much benzene as a cigarette, similar to secondhand smoke. even when the stove is off.