SACRAMENTO --  With the winter season upon us, the Air Resources Board (ARB) is reminding Californian's to properly ventilate their kitchens while cooking in order to reduce exposure to airborne particulate and gaseous pollutants released during cooking activities.

    ARB spokesman Jerry Martin said, “Because Californians spend about 85 percent of their day indoors, it is important to reduce emissions from cooking which pose a potential health risk.”

    In tests using both gas and electric appliances, levels of airborne particles ranged from 60 to 1400 micrograms per cubic meter during cooking, and up to 3600 micrograms per cubic meter during oven cleaning.  These levels can exceed the ambient air quality standard of 50 micrograms per cubic meter averaged over 24 hours.

    An ARB study completed in 2001 tested the indoor air quality impacts of 32 cooking activities such as broiling fish, baking lasagna, and stir-frying.  Investigators found that nitrogen dioxide levels ranged up to 400 parts per billion, which is well over ARB's indoor air quality guideline and ambient air quality standard of 250 parts per billion for one hour.  Frying, broiling, and baking caused other high indoor pollutant levels, such as formaldehyde, and levels were even higher when the oven’s self-cleaning feature was used.

    In order to reduce exposures to the pollutants generated during cooking and oven cleaning, the ARB recommends the following steps:
 

• Use a low-noise range hood that is vented to the outdoors.  Adding side shields while using an exhaust hood removes even more of the pollutants.
• Use the self-cleaning oven cycle only when the house is unoccupied and well ventilated.
• Consider using a microwave oven whenever possible.  Microwaves also use less electricity that conventional ovens.
• Avoid spilling food on burners and in the oven.

    "To reduce emissions from home appliances they should be cleaned regularly and checked to assure they are in good working order, " Martin added.

    The ARB carries out a non-regulatory Indoor Air Quality Program that includes sponsored research, exposure assessment, development of indoor air quality guidelines, and public education and outreach.  The ARB is committed to pursuing actions to prevent indoor pollution and to effectively reduce the significant risk it currently poses to Californians.

    For more information on the cooking study and ways to reduce your exposures to indoor pollutants, visit our website or call 916-322-2990.
 
 

    The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency.  ARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy.  The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

    The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy cost, see our web site at http://www.arb.ca.gov