About the Study
Much is still unknown about the health impacts of using natural gas in our homes. The Kitchen Pollutants Study aims to improve our understanding of the relationship between indoor air quality and human health and the potential health hazards of unburned natural gas. By signing up to participate you will help us answer the question: What is in natural gas besides methane?
By signing up to participate (see above), you will help us answer the question: What is in natural gas besides methane? In the current phase of the project, researchers are focused on the chemical makeup of natural gas, including concentrations of dozens of health-damaging air pollutants. PSE Healthy Energy’s staff scientists will take direct samples from participants’ homes to quantify these pollutants. PSE has conducted similar work in North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Some of these results have already been published in a peer-reviewed journal, which you can view here. We are currently planning on collecting samples in Amsterdam and Milan in late January and February of 2024.
Our natural gas sampling procedure involves us taking a sample of unburned gas from kitchen stoves. We will connect a hose to the stove and collect a sample of gas in a canister to send to a contracted lab for analysis. No damage or modifications will be done to the stove during this process. We are seeking residents and community groups to sample their stoves across these cities.
PSE will also be collaborating with researchers from Stanford. This portion of the study aims to discover what pollutants enter the kitchen while cooking with a gas stove. This is a more time intensive process, and involves tenting off the kitchen for around four or five hours. You will have the option to opt- in to one or both parts of the study. Those selected for the longer sampling will receive a 100€ compensation upon completion of the sample. See the registration form for your city to see if you are eligible to participate in this portion of the study.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this project please email us at NaturalGasStudy@psehealthyenergy.org or call/text us at +1 510-263-6189.
Data Protection and Privacy Policy
PSE Healthy Energy is committed to protecting any personal data that you share with us and fully complying with our obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation, Data Protection Act 2018 and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003. If you are interested in participating in our study, we will need to collect some personal information from you, including name and address. For more information on how your data will be collected and processed, please read the privacy policy for your respective city linked below. If you have any questions, you can contact us at naturalgasstudy@psehealthyenergy.org.
