/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24739006/1246478743.jpg "Gas Stove Pollution Surpasses Secondhand Smoke in Harmfulness")
Gas stoves emit concerning levels of benzene, a chemical associated with leukemia and other blood cell cancers, according to a recent study conducted by Stanford researchers. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, reveals that gas stoves release benzene concentrations higher than those found in secondhand smoke within homes. This study adds support to the movement to phase out gas connections in homes and buildings, as there is an increasing body of evidence indicating the risks gas stoves pose to public health and the environment. Despite this, the fossil fuel industry has resisted the transition to clean energy by capitalizing on people’s attachment to gas stoves.
The study’s principal investigator, Stanford professor Rob Jackson, expressed his motivation to change his own gas stove after observing the rapid rise in pollutant concentrations in his home. Benzene is a highly potent carcinogen, and exposure to it occurs through various sources such as tobacco smoke, wildfires, and vehicle emissions. The study aims to raise awareness of the risks associated with benzene exposure and advocate for risk reduction rather than causing panic.
This study is the first to measure indoor pollution caused by gas stoves and its impact on benzene levels. The researchers analyzed 87 homes in California and Colorado with gas and propane stoves in 2022. They discovered that approximately 30% of the kitchens tested emitted higher benzene concentrations than secondhand tobacco smoke when a single gas burner was set to high or when a gas oven was set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, the study found that benzene traveled from the kitchens to the bedrooms, where unhealthy concentrations persisted for several hours, even after the stove was turned off. In one house, bedroom benzene levels were comparable to pollution events near schools that triggered investigations in 2020.
The age or brand of the stove did not significantly affect benzene production. While ventilation played a role in reducing exposure to benzene, the researchers found that range hoods were not always effective in curbing pollution since some hoods recirculate air instead of venting it outside. In comparison, induction stoves did not emit measurable amounts of benzene. Electric stoves emitted significantly lower levels of benzene, 10 to 25 times less than gas and propane stoves, possibly due to scorching food on the stovetop.
The phase-out of gas connections in new homes and buildings is primarily driven by the need to combat climate change. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, fuels gas stoves and escapes from both gas infrastructure and kitchen appliances. The negative health effects of gas stoves have been previously documented, with a 2022 study attributing nearly 13% of childhood asthma cases in the US to gas stove use. Another analysis in 2013 found that children living in homes with gas stoves had a 42% higher risk of experiencing asthma symptoms compared to those in homes without gas stoves.
Efforts to phase out gas stove use have faced legal challenges. Berkeley, California, became the first US city to ban gas hookups in new construction in 2019, but the policy was subsequently blocked by a federal court in April. A bill preventing a federal ban on gas stoves was recently passed in the House, despite the absence of federal legislation proposing such a ban. The American Gas Association argues that customers prefer natural gas, and the gas industry has heavily promoted the use of gas stoves for decades.