Benzene From Gas Ovens May Increase Childhood Cancer Risks: Study

Researchers found that the risk of cancer was highest among children in homes with medium to high gas stove use, and poor ventilation.

New research used to estimate benzene exposure from gas stoves in American homes warns that families, and particularly children, may be exposed to high levels of the cancer-causing chemical on a regular basis.

The findings were published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials on March 22, indicating that children could be exposed to twice the levels of benzene from gas stoves compared to adults, potentially increasing their risk of cancer compared to children in homes with electric stoves.

Gas Stove Health Concerns

Health experts have grown increasingly concerned in recent years about the safety of natural gas and propane stoves, which are now known to emit benzene, a chemical known to cause various types of cancer, including leukemia and other blood cancers.

Previous studies have found that benzene levels in homes that have natural gas stoves can be higher than those found in secondhand smoke, with researchers warning that gas stoves on high, or an oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, exposes household occupants to high levels of benzene.

Another study, conducted by Stanford researchers, indicates benzene fumes are present in nearly all natural gas stove emissions, exposing hundreds of thousands of households to potential health risks.

Amid the emerging research, a debate has begun over whether natural gas stoves should be banned in the U.S. While many health experts supported such a ban, two U.S. Senators introduced legislation to block a federal ban on gas stoves in the United States. The bill was blocked by the Biden Administration.

In this latest study, researchers from Stanford University evaluated population level benzene exposure for 6.3 million U.S. residents exposed to the top 5% highest benzene-emitting gas stoves in the country. They used data from the National Institute for Science and Technology (CONTAM) study, a multi-zone indoor air quality study used to simulate benzene exposure across 24 housing floor plans in the U.S.

Overall, the findings indicate exposure to gas stove benzene emissions elevate cancer risks, particularly in homes with medium to high gas stove usage and inadequate ventilation.

The data indicates the overall cumulative risk of benzene exposure exceeded the World Health Organization’s safety threshold, especially among children. The incremental lifetime cancer risk among children exposed to benzene from gas stoves was 1.85 times higher than adults in homes with high and medium gas stove usage.

Stove ventilation helped reduce the risks of cancer, but it requires high efficiency vented hoods. High efficiency vented hoods reduced the risk of cancer by more than 75% and especially reduced the risk of benzene exposure in the kitchen.

Researchers said the CONTAM model accurately estimated indoor benzene exposure in most homes. The model helped to show the amount of benzene exposure that can lead to a greater risk of cancer.

The research team concluded that this highlights the need for addressing air pollutants in American homes, especially from household appliances like gas stoves. It is necessary to address these pollutants to better protect public health, especially in households with limited ventilation, such as rented apartments where ventilation cannot be replaced by the tenants, warned researchers.