Editor,
Jon Mays’ column on building electrification is bursting with too much incorrect information to tackle in one letter, so I’ll address this one particularly false falsehood: Methane gas is “safe and clean burning.” Nothing could be further from the truth, especially for children.
I am a mother of two kids with asthma, so I have paid close attention to the increasingly large body of research that shows that gas-fired appliances in homes produce harmful nitrogen oxides and indoor air pollution. NOx are toxic, highly reactive gases that endanger human health by causing respiratory conditions such as asthma, wheezing, decreased lung function, increased likelihood of hospital visits, heart disease, and even early death. That is a key reason I support a transition to electric appliances in homes and buildings. These are the truly safe and clean options that will protect our, and our children’s, health.
And yes, Mr. Mays, statewide action would be wonderful, but we’re not there now. There is no time to waste when our children’s health is at stake, so regional efforts are critical to move the process along in the direction that you acknowledge it should go.
Michelle Hudson
San Mateo
The column was corrected. — Ed.
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(9) comments
Ms. Hudson – a few questions… Do you have evidence that gas-fired appliances caused your children’s asthma? If so, how do you reconcile that with the millions of gas-fired appliances in homes where millions of folks have not contracted asthma or any your other bevy of conditions? If you believe gas-fired appliances are harmful to your kids, are you still living in a gas-fired appliance home? If so, some may consider that to border on child endangerment.
OSHA says 100 ppm (.0001%) of methane is safe for adults over an 8 hr period. NOAA says the actual amount of methane in the atmosphere is only .6 ppb (.000000006%). There is no proof that anyone has died from current levels of methane in the atmosphere.
Let's be honest, Ms. Hudson has two sick children and is not sure what caused it. If it makes her feel better to blame it on natural gas usage at home, let her be. It is human nature to look for scape goats. Unfortunately, the electrification mob is not making it easier for her and let's pray that she can find suitable treatment for her children, perhaps PCE will foot her medical bill to put their money where their mouth is.
Your letter is spot on. Thank you Michelle!
Asthma isn't some debilitating disease - my mother had asthma all her life and played competitive tennis into her 60s - while unfortunately getting breast cancer in her 50s. My guess is you are too scared to put your kids in sports and your fear based illogical rhetoric is preventing them from living a full life. Like I have told other people with this argument - you do not get to tell other people how to live because you feel some kind of way. Its called Solipsism and I wont co-sign on any of it.
My father made similar arguments about smoking. The rumors that it might be unhealthy were obviously not true because smoking made him feel better. The fact that it made us kids feel sick when he smoked in the car with the windows closed was immaterial--we did not have the right to interfere with his living a full life or his relationship with his cigarettes. Years later, he died of emphysema after a long and debilitating decline.
Those two things are not even remotely similar for comparison. Like not even in the same solar system.
Thank you Michelle, excellent points. Breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can irritate airways in the human respiratory system. Exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms, hospital admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Longer exposures to elevated concentrations of NO2 may contribute to the development of asthma and potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. People with asthma, as well as children and the elderly are generally at greater risk for the health effects of NO2.
NO2 along with other NOx reacts with other chemicals in the air to form both particulate matter and ozone. Both of these are also harmful when inhaled due to effects on the respiratory system.
Westy - another one of your 'off-the-rails response. You mentioned high concentrations and then point out all of the resulting calamities. As Ed Kahl mentions below, concentrations are minimally high and are of no real concern. Fear mongering is your stock and trade. There are millions of gas stoves in the world and do not seem to have the effects that you dwell upon.
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