A team of NIEHS and the scientists of Johns Hopkins Universities have recently discovered that excess amounts of nitrogen-dioxide triggers asthma symptoms, especially in children under the age of four or five.  This particular gas has been found in various industrial locations and inner city homes with unvented gas stoves. It has also been discovered that nitrogen-dioxide is directly linked with exacerbation of asthma.

The research team made elaborate comparisons between inner-city children of the amount of nitrogen dioxide they have been exposed to and the level of chest tightness, wheezing and other asthma symptoms they suffer from.   What was found was that increasing proportions of exposure to this gas can lead to a proportionate increase in the amount of coughing and wheezing. A large number of houses had gas cooking stoves and many of these homes where heated with natural gas. 

Among all chronic diseases, asthma is the most common and is reported to affect over 6 million children in just the United States. It is also firmly believed that severe asthma attacks is most common in inner- city homes. People there are known to have limited access to proper health care and secondly due to high levels of exposure to allergens, cigarette smoke and exhausts from vehicles.

Researches now ask physicians to inquire asthmatics about the heating appliances of their homes and give them options of alternatives to these for amore healthier living.