Are induction cooktops better for indoor air quality than gas?
While most people like to cook with natural gas, its combustion is known to be hazardous to our health as well as our indoor air quality. Natural gas in its original state contains radon and benzene, chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer. It also contains toluene, a chemical known to cause reproductive harm. Combustion byproducts can generally be removed through appliance vents and other exhaust systems, however. Induction cooktops are a safe and reliable alternative to natural gas, and they have been used for many years throughout Europe. An induction cooktop will cost more, but is more energy efficient than a natural gas cooktop. (A typical induction cooktop is 84 percent efficient, while a gas range is only 40 percent efficient, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.) There are safety advantages, too: The induction cooktop does not get hot. Instead, the heat is transferred from the element to the pot or pan on the cooktop. There is no open flame to worry ab
