Cooking stoves, both gas and electric, are one of the strongest and most common sources of ultrafine particles
(UFP) in homes. UFP have been shown to be associated with adverse health effects such as DNA damage and
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigates the effectiveness of kitchen exhaust hoods in
reducing indoor levels of UFP emitted from a gas stove and oven. Measurements in an unoccupied manufactured
house monitored size-resolved UFP (2 nm to 100 nm) concentrations from the gas stove and
oven while varying range hood flow rate and burner position. The air change rate in the building was measured
continuously based on the decay of a tracer gas (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6). The results show that
range hood flow rate and burner position (front vs. rear) can have strong effects on the reduction of indoor
levels of UFP released from the stove and oven, subsequently reducing occupant exposure to UFP. Higher
range hood flow rates are generally more effective for UFP reduction, though the reduction varies with particle
diameter. The influence of the range hood exhaust is larger for the back burner than for the front burner.
The number-weighted particle reductions for range hood flow rates varying between 100 m3
/h and 680 m3
/h
range from 31% to 94% for the front burner, from 54% to 98% for the back burner, and from 39% to 96% for the
oven.