You may have heard people arguing over electric vehicles versus gas vehicles, but now the debate has come into the kitchen with gas stoves versus electric stoves.

你可能聽過人們爭論電動車還是燃油車好，現在戰場已轉移到廚房，變成電磁爐 vs 瓦斯爐。

Some recent research has called into question the safety of gas stoves and their detrimental impact on human health as well as the environment.

近期，有研究對瓦斯爐的安全性及其對健康和環境的影響提出了質疑。

And as a result, it has led to a lot of headlines and political battles.

研究結果上了新聞頭條，引發不少政治紛爭。

But considering I have one in my very own home,

但考慮到我家也有瓦斯爐，

I just wanted to know how bad is it actually for my health and the environment

我只想知道它對我的健康和環境究竟有什麼負面影響，

and what can I or you do about it.

而我又該如何應對。

For the sake of clarity,

事先聲明，

I'm not gonna be comparing which version of a stove heats or cooks your food the best or most efficient or is the cheapest.

我不會比較哪個瓦斯爐做飯最好、最有效率或最便宜。

Number one, because I'm a terrible cook and none of those things are going to save me.

因為，第一，我廚藝超爛，用再好的爐子都沒用。

And number two, while those things are interesting and can be scientific,

第二，雖然這些東西很有趣，而且可以很科學，

I'm mostly concerned with the health and environmental impacts and don't want to get lost in too many different variables here.

但我主要關心的是對健康和環境的影響，不想有過多影響因素。

So around 35 to 40% of U.S. households actually use gas stoves and there are basically two ways that they can pollute your home.

大約有三成五到四成美國家庭用的是瓦斯爐，而瓦斯爐對家庭環境造成的汙染基本上分為兩種面向。

The first is obvious when your gas stove is on, it's literally burning gas and there's no smoke free combustion.

第一個，顯而易見，是瓦斯爐開啟時，其實這就是在燃燒氣體，不可能無煙。

The heat that is created can cause nitrogen and oxygen to bond, creating nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide,

熱會導致氮氣和氧氣結合，產生一氧化氮和二氧化氮，

both of which are considered toxic gasses and lung irritants and can aggravate existing conditions, particularly in Children.

這兩種氣體都被認為是有毒氣體，會刺激肺部，加重病情，尤其對於兒童。

But it can also emit carbon monoxide, methane, formaldehyde,

瓦斯爐也會排放一氧化碳、甲烷、甲醛

and particular matter which decades of research have shown negatively affect our respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

和一些特殊物質，幾十年來的研究都表明這些物質會對呼吸和心血管系統產生負面影響。

The level of these toxic compounds is so bad, in fact,

事實上，這些有毒化合物的排放量之高，

that the E.P.A., or Environmental Protection Agency would consider it illegal if it was outside.

如果是在室外排放，美國國家環境保護局 (EPA) 會判定其違法。

Let me restate that clearly.

再強調一次。

The emissions that can be produced in your home from your gas stove are so high

這些有毒化合物的排放量之高，

that if those levels were recorded outside the E.P.A. would consider it ILLEGAL.

如果是在室外排放，會被美國國家環境保護局 (EPA) 判定為違法！

The outdoor safety standards are exceeded within minutes of your gas stove being on.

瓦斯爐只要開著幾分鐘，排放量就會超過室外安全標準。

And while there are regulations in place to lower nitrogen dioxide levels outside,

雖然有降低室外二氧化氮水平相關法規，

there are no such regulations or any of oversight on indoor appliances,

但沒有任何法規是針對室內設備排放量的。

meaning the pollution in your home can be several times worse than if you were standing right beside a highway with tons of car traffic or near heavy industry,

也就是說，你在家中的污染可能比站在高速公路旁，吸汽車廢氣或在重工業附近嚴重好幾倍。

And outdoors, at least the fumes disperse and are not so concentrated or confined in your home.

在戶外，至少廢氣會散去，不會集中在你家中。

And these fumes and their impact can linger well after your stove is turned off.

而且關掉瓦斯爐後，這些排放物及其影響還會持續很長一段時間。

But the second way that gas stoves impact our health is actually a little scarier.

但其實，瓦斯爐影響我們健康的第二種方法更加可怕。

Because even when your gas stove isn't running,

即便瓦斯爐沒有開，

research has shown that they can still emit toxic compounds like Benzene, which is a carcinogen,

研究顯示，它仍會釋放出苯等有毒化合物 (致癌物)，

and trace quantities of 21 other chemicals considered hazardous.

還有微量的 21 種其他被認為有害的化學物質。

And we're not talking about insignificant amount.

我說的不是無傷大雅的量。

So, the latest research has found that simply having a gas stove in your home that's off can leave levels of benzene as high as if you had a smoker in your home.

最新研究發現，家中瓦斯爐處於關閉狀態時，苯的排放量相當於家中有個吸煙者。

In other words, your gas stove is potentially releasing just as much benzene as a cigarette, making them akin to second hand smoke.

換句話說，瓦斯爐會釋放出與香菸一樣多的苯，致使其效果類似於二手菸。

And that's when the stove is off.

這還是在瓦斯爐關閉的情況下。

In fact, the newest research shows that nearly 13% all current cases of childhood asthma in the U.S. are due to the use of gas stoves,

事實上，最新研究表明，美國目前有近百分之 13 的兒童氣喘是因使用瓦斯爐造成的。

which is comparable to secondhand smoke.

其效果與二手菸相當。

If America didn't have gas stoves, 13% of childhood asthma cases would be prevented.

如果美國沒有瓦斯爐，就可避免百分之 13 的兒童氣喘。

Now, some people might be saying, what about electric stoves, don't they also release pollutants?

現在有些人可能會說，電磁爐不也會汙染嗎？

And the truth is, yes.

沒錯。

Some particulate matter does come from electric stoves,

一些懸浮粒子的確實來自電磁爐，

but they're not combusting methane, which means you're not getting products like nitrogen dioxide.

但它不燃燒甲烷，這意味著不會產出像二氧化氮這樣的產物。

And what about your gas powered furnaces or water heaters?

那燃氣爐跟熱水器呢？

Well, they typically event pollution directly outside,

這個嘛，它們通常會直接向外排放汙染。

but the stove being right in the middle of your kitchen, often isn't even properly vented,

但爐子就在你廚房中間，而且往往沒有適當的通風措施。

which we'll get to in a minute along with what you can actually do to minimize these impacts.

等等再來討論我們實際可以做些什麼來最大程度地減少影響。

Before that, I just want to talk about the environmental impact of gas stoves.

在此之前，我想先談談瓦斯爐對環境的影響。

After all, you are using a fossil fuel to heat or cook your food.

畢竟，你是在用化石燃料來加熱和烹煮食物。

Researchers found that the methane emissions from gas stoves in the US alone are equal to adding 500,000 cars to the road each year.

研究人員發現，僅在美國，瓦斯爐的甲烷排放量就相當於每年在道路上增加 50 萬輛汽車。

Gas combustion in buildings added up is about 12 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions for the U.S.

室內天然氣氣燃燒總量約占美國溫室氣體排放總量的百分之 12。

But it's important to remember that this number includes things like, gas furnaces and boilers, basically all gas usage and buildings.

但記住，這個數字包括諸如天然氣暖爐和鍋爐等設備，基本上就是所有涉及天然氣使用的東西。

Ultimately, cooking is a fraction of these methane emissions.

歸根結底，烹飪只佔甲烷排放量的一小部分。

But many municipalities are working towards banning or preventing gas lines being created into new buildings

但是許多市政當局正在努力禁止蓋新大樓時內建天然氣管道，

and helping to subsidize the change from gas appliances and utilities to electric.

並用補助鼓勵個人及公家將燃氣設備換成電力設備。

Because it's not just your stove that can leak gas.

因為，不僅僅是瓦斯爐會派放氣體。

The gas supply chain leaks methane from start to finish.

天然氣供應過程從頭到尾都在洩漏甲烷。

Piping in the walls can have leaks and even on its way to your house, it can leak into the atmosphere,

牆上的管線可能會洩漏，甚至在通往住家途中也會洩漏到大氣中，

contributing to methane emissions, which are rising globally.

導致甲烷排放量增加，而全球甲烷排放量都不斷在上升。

Of course, methane is a way more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide even though it doesn't stay in the atmosphere as long.

當然，甲烷是種比二氧化碳影響更大的溫室氣體，儘管它不會停留在大氣中太久。

And if we want to minimize the impacts of climate change, scientists say we need to leave the majority of fossil fuels, including gas reserves, in the ground.

如果我們想盡量減少氣候變化的影響，科學家們說我們需要將大部分化石燃料 (包括天然氣儲量) 留在地下。

Now, depending where you live, if you have an electric stove, the energy for cooking may still come from fossil fuels either way,

現在，根據居住地不同，如果你使用電磁爐，電能來源可能仍然是來自化石燃料，

but the combustion at least happens at a power plant far away from your lungs.

但至少燃燒的地點會離你的肺遠一點。

And the hope is over the coming years, more and more power grids will be supported and powered by renewable and emissions free energies.

希望在未來幾年，會有越來越多的電力來自可再生，無排放能源。

So now, we come back here and to you wondering, what the fxxk do I do?

現在，讓我們回到這個你想知道的問題，倒底該怎麼應對？

Trust me, I feel you.

相信我，我懂。

As this news and research was being released, I started feeling freaked out to just be in my own home.

隨著這個新聞和研究的發布，我開始害怕待在家中。

So what can you actually do if you have a gas stove?

那麼，如果你家有瓦斯爐，有什麼是可以做的呢？

First, you should definitely be using a ventilation system while the gas is going

首先，開瓦斯時，絕對要開抽風。

and a little while after, which a lot of people, including myself, don't do.

而且在使用過後，還要持續抽風一陣子，這是很多人，包括我自己，沒有做到的。

The vent will help usher the air pollution outside, which doesn't do much for the environmental problem, but at least protect your lungs.

抽風有助於將空氣污染引至室外，這對環境不太好，但至少可以保護你的肺。

But one major problem is that not all vent hoods are created equal.

但一個主要問題是，並非所有抽油煙機都是一樣的。

In fact, some are actually not connected to the outside, and instead the fans just recirculating the air indoors, which isn't doing much good.

事實上，有些實際上並沒有連接到外面，風扇只是在室內循環空氣，沒什麼用。

And some of you may not even have a vent or range hood, in which case, your best option is to open a window or a door to get the air circulating.

而有些人甚至可能家裡沒有排氣口或抽油煙機，在這種情況下，最好的選擇是打開窗戶或門讓空氣流通。

Even better, get a fan pushing the indoor air out.

能用風扇將室內空氣排出更好。

Ultimately, the best solution to this problem is not having a gas stove to begin with,

歸根結底，解決這個問題的最好辦法是一開始就不要裝瓦斯爐。

which is sucks to say because most people are not in the position to get a new appliance,

這答案很糟，因為大多數人都沒有條件買新設備。

but it is something that I am seriously considering right now.

但我現在正在認真考慮換電磁爐。

When it comes to electric, you have a choice between standard and induction,

說到電磁爐，有標準式和感應式兩種選擇，

both of which will create a safer environment indoors and have a lower impact on the environment.

兩者都能幫助營造更安全的室內環境，且對環境的影響更小。

At the end of the day, it's a bit of a risk calculation.

說到底，這是其實就是種風險計算。

If you're healthy and have a quality ventilation system or a big kitchen, it may not be your biggest concern,

如果你身體健康且有優質的通風設備或大廚房，可能就不用太擔心。

though it will still impact the environment.

會污染環境就是了。

But if you have kids in the home or somebody with a compromised respiratory or cardio vascular system,

但如果你家裡有孩子、呼吸系統或心血管系統受損者，

it may not be worth having a direct source of pollution in the middle of your home, especially if you can afford the change or are in the market for a new stove.

那麼家中間擺一個直接污染源可能就不是個好選擇，特別是如果你負擔得起換電磁爐。

I hope this video was helpful and not too scary.

希望這支影片對你有幫助，而且沒有太嚇到你。

At the end of the day, I think it's important we know the reality of the up to date research and science.

畢竟，我認為知曉最新研究和科學知識是很重要的。

And from there, we can start to make educated decisions about our own personal health and the collective health of those around us, including the environment.

在這基礎之上，我們可以根據個人或周圍人的集體健康 (包括環境) 做出明智的決定。

Thanks so much for watching.

感謝觀看。

Make sure you like the video and subscribe if you want to see more.

記得按讚，如果想看更多相關影片，請訂閱頻道。

Otherwise, we'll see you next time for some more science.

一起了解更多科學知識。

Peace.

下次見！