Reducing Exposure to Cooking Pollutants

A New Report from the Environmental Law Institute

EPA's Indoor Environments Division would like to share with our stakeholders a new report from the Environmental Law Institute on Reducing Exposure to Cooking Pollutants: Policies and Practices to Improve Air Quality in Homes. 

Cooking-related pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are linked to serious human health impacts including respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, there are ways to address this widespread problem, starting with ventilation.

This report supports efforts to strengthen building codes and other policies to ensure that new and renovated homes have kitchen ventilation that can effectively reduce exposure to cooking pollutants. The report also notes opportunities to improve kitchen ventilation and reduce exposure in the existing housing stock, such as through housing codes that cover rental housing, and through funding programs that could be tapped to assist lower-income families.