The thing in your kitchen most likely to kill you - George Zaidan

Summary

The video script highlights the often-overlooked dangers of kitchen appliances, particularly ovens and ranges, which were responsible for the most fatalities between 2011 and 2022 in the US. It discusses the significant health risks associated with indoor air pollution from cooking, especially from solid fuel use, which affects over 2 billion people and contributes to millions of premature deaths annually. The script advocates for the transition to electric stoves, especially induction ones, for improved indoor air quality, climate benefits, and cooking efficiency. It also touches on the 'avocado hand' injury, a humorous yet cautionary tale about kitchen safety.

Takeaways

• 🥑 Avocados caused nearly 9,000 ER visits in the US in 2018 due to 'avocado hand' injuries from improper cutting techniques.
• ⚠️ Kitchens pose various hazards, with ovens and ranges being the deadliest appliances between 2011 and 2022, causing fires and carbon monoxide leaks.
• 🏠 Indoor air pollution, largely from cooking, is a significant contributor to the fourth leading cause of years of life lost globally.
• 🌎 Over 2 billion people use solid fuels like charcoal and wood for cooking, leading to incomplete combustion and the production of harmful pollutants.
• 🔥 High levels of soot, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter are released from burning solid fuels, causing health issues and premature deaths.
• 💨 Gas stoves produce more pollution than electric ones due to byproducts like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde.
• 🌡️ High-heat cooking methods release more pollutants, similar to burning solid fuels, and can accumulate substances like oil and dust that release pollutants when heated.
• 🌿 Transitioning to electric cooking and proper ventilation can improve indoor air quality and extend lives, as well as reduce carbon emissions.
• 🌍 Electric induction stoves are more climate-compatible, efficient, easy to clean, and safer than other stove types, as they don't allow direct burns.
• 🏛️ Some governments are banning gas appliances in new developments and subsidizing the transition to electric to address health and climate concerns.

Q & A

How many people were sent to US emergency rooms due to avocado-related injuries in 2018?

In 2018 alone, almost 9,000 people were sent to US emergency rooms due to injuries sustained while cutting avocados.

What is the term used by doctors to describe injuries from cutting avocados?

Doctors have dubbed injuries from cutting avocados as 'avocado hand'.

What are the deadliest kitchen appliances in the US between 2011 and 2022?

The deadliest kitchen appliances in the US between 2011 and 2022 were ovens and ranges, which are appliances that are stoves and ovens in one.

What hazards are associated with ovens and ranges?

Ovens and ranges can cause fires and leak carbon monoxide, a gas that can cause suffocation at high concentrations.

What is the fourth leading cause of years of life lost globally?

The fourth leading cause of years of life lost globally is air pollution, which includes indoor air pollution, most of which comes from cooking.

How many people cook using solid fuel, and what are the health implications?

Over 2 billion people cook using solid fuel like charcoal and wood, which can lead to incomplete combustion and produce pollutants that cause about 3 million premature deaths each year.

What are the two basic types of stoves and ovens, and which one pollutes more?

There are two basic types of stoves and ovens: gas and electric. Gas stoves pollute more than electric ones due to byproducts like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde.

How do gas stoves affect health, especially in children?

Gas stoves can exacerbate asthma symptoms and put children at an increased risk of developing the condition.

What are the differences between traditional electric stoves and modern induction electric stoves?

Traditional electric stoves use metal elements that radiate heat when an electrical current is forced through them, while modern induction electric stoves use electromagnetic waves to induce currents that heat cookware directly.

Why are electric appliances considered better for the climate?

Electric appliances are considered better for the climate because they do not release carbon dioxide or methane, and as grids transition to renewable energy sources, they become more climate-compatible.

What are the advantages of electric induction stoves over other stove types?

Electric induction stoves tend to rival or outperform all other stove types in cooking efficiency and ease of cleaning. They also only heat things that respond strongly to their magnetic fields, reducing the risk of burns.

What actions are some governments taking to address the concerns around gas appliances?

Some governments have banned gas appliances from new developments and are helping subsidize the transition from gas to electric appliances.

Outlines

00:00

🥑 Avocado Hand and Kitchen Hazards

This paragraph discusses the surprising dangers of avocados, which led to nearly 9,000 emergency room visits in the US in 2018 due to 'avocado hand' injuries. It then transitions into a broader discussion on kitchen safety, highlighting that ovens and ranges are the deadliest kitchen appliances, causing fires and carbon monoxide leaks. The paragraph also introduces the concept of gradual, long-term health risks associated with kitchen activities, particularly indoor air pollution from cooking, which is a significant global health issue. Over 2 billion people use solid fuels like charcoal and wood for cooking, leading to incomplete combustion and the production of harmful pollutants. These pollutants can cause serious health problems, including premature death, with an estimated 3 million deaths annually linked to illnesses from burning solid fuels.

Keywords

💡Avocado hand

Avocado hand refers to injuries sustained while cutting avocados, often due to hacking at the pit or slicing while holding the fruit. The term is used in the script to highlight the common yet avoidable accidents that occur in kitchens, emphasizing the need for safer practices. It serves as an introduction to the broader theme of kitchen safety and the various hazards present in this everyday environment.

💡Ovens and ranges

Ovens and ranges are kitchen appliances that combine stovetop burners and ovens. The script identifies these as the deadliest kitchen appliances between 2011 and 2022 in the US, causing fatalities through fires and carbon monoxide leaks. This keyword is central to discussing the immediate dangers of kitchen appliances and sets the stage for exploring other, more gradual health risks associated with cooking.

💡Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that can be lethal at high concentrations, as it can cause suffocation by preventing the blood from carrying oxygen. In the script, it is mentioned as a byproduct of incomplete combustion in stoves and ovens, highlighting the importance of proper ventilation and the risks associated with certain cooking methods.

💡Indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution refers to the presence of harmful pollutants inside homes, which can be caused by various sources, including cooking. The script emphasizes that indoor air pollution, largely from cooking, is a significant contributor to global health issues, making it a key concept in understanding the broader environmental and health impacts of kitchen activities.

💡Solid fuel

Solid fuel, such as charcoal and wood, is used by over 2 billion people for cooking. The script explains that the combustion of solid fuels can lead to incomplete burning, resulting in pollutants like soot and carbon monoxide. This keyword is crucial for understanding the environmental and health consequences of traditional cooking methods and the need for alternatives.

💡Particulate matter

Particulate matter consists of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, which can be inhaled and cause health problems. The script describes how these particles, produced by burning solid fuels, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to inflammation and other health issues. This keyword is important for illustrating the direct health risks associated with certain cooking practices.

💡Gas stoves

Gas stoves are a type of cooking appliance that uses natural gas to create an open flame for cooking. The script notes that gas stoves produce more pollution than electric ones, including byproducts like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. This keyword is significant in the discussion of the comparative environmental impact of different cooking appliance technologies.

💡Electric stoves

Electric stoves are cooking appliances that use electricity to generate heat, either through traditional metal elements or modern induction technology. The script contrasts gas and electric stoves, suggesting that electric ranges are cleaner and safer options, which is important for understanding the shift towards more sustainable and health-conscious cooking methods.

💡Induction electric stoves

Induction electric stoves use electromagnetic waves to heat cookware directly, making them more energy-efficient and safer than traditional electric or gas stoves. The script highlights the benefits of induction stoves in terms of cooking efficiency, ease of cleaning, and safety, positioning them as a superior choice for both health and environmental reasons.

💡Ventilation

Ventilation in the context of the script refers to the circulation of air to remove pollutants and heat from indoor spaces, particularly important in kitchens. The script suggests that proper ventilation, such as using a range hood that vents outdoors, is crucial for improving indoor air quality and reducing health risks associated with cooking.

💡Climate compatibility

Climate compatibility refers to the degree to which an appliance or practice contributes to climate change, either through the release of greenhouse gases or energy efficiency. The script discusses how electric appliances, especially induction stoves, are more climate-compatible than gas appliances, which is essential for understanding the broader environmental implications of kitchen technology choices.

Highlights

Avocados caused nearly 9,000 ER visits in the US in 2018 due to 'avocado hand' injuries.

Ovens and ranges were the deadliest kitchen appliances between 2011 and 2022 in the US.

Ovens and stoves can cause fires and leak carbon monoxide, leading to suffocation.

Indoor air pollution from cooking is a major contributor to the fourth leading cause of years of life lost globally.

Over 2 billion people cook with solid fuels like charcoal and wood, leading to incomplete combustion and pollution.

Pollutants from cooking include soot, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

Tiny airborne particles from cooking can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing systemic issues.

Approximately 3 million premature deaths occur annually due to illnesses from burning solid fuels.

Gas stoves produce more pollution than electric ones due to byproducts like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.

Gas stoves may exacerbate asthma symptoms and increase the risk of developing the condition in children.

High-heat cooking releases more pollutants, similar to burning solid fuels.

Transitioning from solid fuels to cleaner cooking methods is critical for improving indoor air quality and life expectancy.

Cooking with proper ventilation, like a range hood, and switching from gas to electric can reduce air pollution.

Electric appliances are better for the climate as they do not release carbon dioxide or methane like gas ranges.

Electric induction stoves are efficient, easy to clean, and safer than other stove types.

Some governments have banned gas appliances in new developments due to health and climate concerns.

Despite the concerns, knives remain a common kitchen hazard, especially when cutting avocados.

Transcripts

Avocados may seem innocent,

but these oblong fruits sent almost 9,000 people to US emergency rooms

in 2018 alone.

Injuries sustained by hacking at the pit or slicing while holding the fruit

have become so common, doctors have dubbed them avocado hand.

Of course, there is a safer way to cut avocados.

But knives are just one of the hazards kitchens harbor.

In the US, between 2011 and 2022,

the deadliest kitchen appliances were ovens and ranges—

appliances that are stoves and ovens in one.

They took lives by causing fires and leaking carbon monoxide,

a gas that can cause suffocation at high concentrations.

These kinds of sudden, catastrophic fatalities are thankfully rare.

But the kitchen dangers that cause the most casualties

may actually be less immediate and more gradual—

involving constant exposures, like stuff in the air we breathe.

Ovens and stoves remain a major culprit here.

Indeed, the fourth leading cause of years of life lost globally is air pollution.

This includes indoor air pollution, most of which comes from cooking.

Over 2 billion people cook using a solid fuel, like charcoal and wood.

As it burns, fire and oxygen can’t reach all of the fuel source,

leading to incomplete combustion.

This produces pollutants like soot, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides,

and lots of particulate matter—

that is, solid and liquid particles that have become airborne

and small enough to inhale.

A single particle can contain many different chemicals.

And especially tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs,

enter the bloodstream, and irritate tissues,

cause inflammation, and bring about more systemic problems.

It’s estimated that about 3 million people die prematurely each year

from illnesses caused by burning solid fuels.

Stoves and ovens that don’t use solid fuels produce far less pollution—

but still a considerable amount.

There are two basic types: gas and electric.

Gas stoves primarily burn methane to create an open flame for cooking.

Traditional electric stoves use metal elements that radiate heat

when an electrical current is forced through them.

They’re different from modern induction electric stoves,

which use electromagnetic waves to induce currents

that heat iron and steel cookware directly.

Gas stoves pollute more than electric ones.

That's because natural gas combustion produces byproducts like carbon monoxide,

nitrogen oxides, and formaldehyde.

Unravelling the causes of chronic diseases is incredibly difficult,

but accumulating evidence suggests that gas stoves exacerbate asthma symptoms

and put children at increased risk of developing the condition.

Electric ranges are cleaner than gas ones,

but they’re still not totally pollution-free— no ranges are.

At least some air pollution is inevitable from the cooking process,

no matter the fuel type.

High-heat cooking generally releases more pollutants

than lower heat methods;

after all, charring a steak isn’t all that different from burning a solid fuel.

And substances like oil and dust can accumulate

and release pollutants when heated.

Transitioning away from solid fuels is critical to improving indoor air quality—

and consequently, extending people’s lives.

Cooking with proper ventilation—

ideally, from a powerful range hood that vents to the outdoors—

and switching from gas to electric will also go a long way.

Electric appliances are less dangerous by another significant metric:

the global climate.

Burning fossil fuels like natural gas

releases atmosphere-warming carbon dioxide,

and gas ranges can also leak methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas.

Electric appliances, meanwhile,

should only become more and more climate-compatible

as grids transition to renewable energy sources.

In addition to being better for the climate and public health,

electric induction stoves tend to rival or outperform all other stove types—

electric and gas— when it comes to cooking efficiency and ease of cleaning.

Induction stovetops also only heat things

that respond strongly to their magnetic fields,

so you can’t burn yourself on them directly.

Given the considerable health and climate concerns around gas appliances,

some governments have banned them from new developments

and many are helping subsidize the transition from gas to electric.

Knives will probably be staying the same, though,

so please stop stabbing at avocados while they’re in your hand.