Commentary right about health impacts of gas stoves

I want to thank The Herald and the three members of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility — Mark Vossler, Jon Witte, and Nancy Johnson — for their guest commentary on climate change and air pollution (“All-electric homes would clear air we breathe,” The Herald, Jan. 17). Their article only goes to confirm my personal experience with indoor air pollution.

I had a gas stove this fall and spent an entire weekend happily canning apple sauce and apple butter thanks to a friend’s abundant tree. From Sunday afternoon and through all day Monday I had the most horrible cough. Not a pleasant thought in these times of covid. Persistent, bronchial, painful. Why, I asked myself, had this suddenly come upon me? I had been safely sequestered at home for weeks. Then I remembered reading about natural gas indoor air pollution and here it was, right in my own kitchen!

I have since installed an electric stove and have had no recurrence. I am sad to think that my entire family was exposed all those years to this pernicious health threat. Recently insulating and sealing my home only made this worse, regardless of the exhaust fan over the stove.

Thank you for the warning, and I hope more people take heed for their own health, and the health of their families. We need to support upcoming state legislation and encourage all our cities toward healthier all-electric homes.

Pam Kepford

Everett