Propane fuel exposure can cause COPD and lead to symptom flare-ups, due to the toxic fumes and chemicals it contains. You can stay alert by watching for symptoms and get medical care and treatment if you’re exposed to propane.

Burning propane and other fuels for cooking and heating can cause pollution inside your home, especially if your home isn’t well-ventilated.

This can cause issues for people with breathing conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of respiratory conditions that can be caused by smoking or inhaling toxic fumes like propane.

Propane releases carbon monoxide, nitric dioxide, and other toxic chemicals when burned. These chemicals can all increase the risk of COPD. If you already have COPD, they can cause a flare-up of your symptoms.

Only about 5% of homes in the United States are heated with propane, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), according to data from 2020. LPG is primarily used in the Northeast and rural areas.

However, despite the limited use of propane, research from 2019 suggests that breathing in small particles, called particulate matter (PM), from air pollution and burning propane fuel is a risk factor for COPD.

These particles form as a byproduct of burning fuels for heating or cooking. They’re small enough that they can go deep into your lungs.

Continuous exposure to these molecules can cause inflammation and damage to your lungs. This can lead to COPD or cause symptoms to flare up.

Why is propane so dangerous for COPD?

Propane produces less particulate matter than biomass fuels, like charcoal and wood. But propane can still produce other chemicals, such as nitric dioxide and carbon monoxide, that can damage your lungs. Nitric dioxide is especially associated with the development and worsening of COPD.

A 2020 study found that improved household ventilation was associated with a much lower risk of death from all causes — including respiratory diseases. This suggests that even clean cooking fuels, like propane, that are less harmful than biomass fuels can damage your lungs.

A 2021 study in Peru also found that nitric dioxide levels were significantly lower in the kitchens of homes that used propane than in the kitchens of homes that used biomass fuel. But they also found that 69% of kitchens still had nitric dioxide levels higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Propane isn’t toxic when inhaled. But propane can displace oxygen in your airways over time and make breathing harder.

People with COPD may be more sensitive to changes in the air than people who don’t have COPD.

Low levels of propane exposure can cause:

In high amounts, propane exposure can cause more severe symptoms. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience:

Propane exposure can potentially contribute to a worsening of your COPD symptoms.

If you experience a COPD flare-up, follow any action plans you’ve created with your doctor. Treatment of your COPD symptoms may include one or more of the following:

  • using your rescue inhaler to relax the muscles in your airways
  • taking oral corticosteroids to reduce inflammation in your lungs
  • using an oxygen tank to get more oxygen into your lungs

Signs of a propane leak

If propane leaks, it will quickly evaporate and make a gas cloud. It can catch fire if it encounters a spark or fire. Here are some tips for identifying a propane leak:

  • Be aware of any unusual smells: Propane is odorized to help detect a potential leak. The smell is often described as rotten eggs or rotten cabbage.
  • Listen for unusual sounds: Leaking gas may make a hissing noise near the leak in your gas line.
  • Look for damaged connections in your gas line: This is especially important if you smell or hear anything unusual.

If you suspect a gas leak, do not touch any electrical appliances or anything that may cause a spark. Leave your home with the door open and call 911 or the gas company from a safe location.

Electricity is the cleanest energy source you can use for your home that doesn’t cause any household air pollution. Propane and natural gas are considered clean burning energy sources, but they still create some pollution during use.

Biomass fuels cause the most household pollution, though charcoal may be a cleaner-burning source than wood, coal, and animal dung.

No matter which fuel source you’re using, ensure your kitchen is well-ventilated when cooking with any fuel that creates smoke, gas, or other indoor air pollution. This can help minimize the amount of particulate matter and other chemicals you breathe that may trigger COPD symptoms.

Breathing in pollution caused by burning fuels in the home can cause COPD and may worsen existing symptoms. Propane produces less household air pollution than other biomass fuels, but it still produces enough particulate matter to be a possible cause for concern.

You’re at especially high risk of breathing in high amounts of propane pollution if you cook in a poorly ventilated location. Try to minimize air pollution by keeping your home and kitchen well-ventilated.

If you experience a flare-up of your COPD symptoms, follow your COPD action plan and seek emergency attention if home treatments don’t provide relief.

Your health journey with COPD

Learn more about life with COPD, from your risk factors to what you can do to help with breathing symptoms and treat this condition.