Hot & Toxic is back with new faces in a different city! Hot & Toxic: Washington DC builds on the original series’ success, featuring a stronger connection to its filming location by highlighting local issues and people. While our message stayed the same, we used the launch of the new videos to amplify the work of one of our partners, who recently released a new study on nitrogen dioxide exposure in homes across D.C. and Maryland.
In the first episode, you’re introduced to Bessie, a local homeowner and parent hoping to enjoy a weekend staycation away from her partner and children. However, chaos ensues when she turns on her gas stove. In the second episode, you meet Barbara, a Beyond Gas DC coalition member and one of the volunteers who collected nitrogen dioxide readings for Cooking Up Danger. She’s there to help Bessie with her gas leak and teach the audience about her team’s latest study.
For Cooking Up Danger, the Beyond Gas DC team spent a year surveying almost 700 kitchens in D.C. and M.D. to measure Nitrogen Dioxide levels from gas stove usage. They found that nearly 63% of the homes tested recorded NO2 readings exceeding the EPA safety standards for one hour of exposure. Nitrogen Dioxide irritates the respiratory system and is linked to diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially among children. In many residences, the gas lingered for hours, and high readings were even found in bedrooms. Of the homes tested in D.C., 77% documented readings above the EPA standard.
The gas in stoves leaks other dangerous toxins, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide, which can exacerbate existing health problems and cause new ones. Your stove doesn’t need to be on to threaten your health, as a January 2022 study found that 80 percent of methane leaks from stoves occur when turned off. Gas in the kitchen can also lead to leaks and explosions, an already existing problem for the D.C. and Maryland area.
Go to Hot and Toxic and Cooking Up With Danger to learn more!
