Indoor concentrations of benzene from flames of gasoline stoves will be worse than secondhand smoke

A chemical linked to the next danger of leukemia and different blood cell cancers creeps into hundreds of thousands of properties at any time when residents gentle their gasoline stoves. A brand new Stanford-led evaluation finds {that a} single gasoline cooktop burner on excessive or a gasoline oven set to 350 levels Fahrenheit can increase indoor ranges of the carcinogen benzene above these in secondhand tobacco smoke. Benzene additionally drifts all through a house and lingers for hours in dwelling air, in line with the paper revealed June 22 in Environmental Science & Know-how.

Benzene varieties in flames and different high-temperature environments, such because the flares present in oil fields and refineries. We now know that benzene additionally varieties within the flames of gasoline stoves in our properties. Good air flow helps scale back pollutant concentrations, however we discovered that exhaust followers have been typically ineffective at eliminating benzene publicity.”

Rob Jackson, research senior creator, the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Provostial Professor and professor of Earth system science on the Stanford Doerr College of Sustainability

Worse than secondhand smoke

Total, the researchers discovered that indoor concentrations of benzene fashioned within the flames of gasoline stoves will be worse than common concentrations from secondhand smoke, that benzene can migrate into different rooms removed from the kitchen, and that concentrations measured in bedrooms can exceed nationwide and worldwide well being benchmarks. Additionally they discovered residential vary hoods will not be at all times efficient at lowering concentrations of benzene and different pollution, even when the hoods vent open air.

The brand new paper is the primary to investigate benzene emissions when a range or oven is in use. Earlier research targeted on leaks from stoves when they’re off, and didn’t instantly measure ensuing benzene concentrations. The researchers discovered gasoline and propane burners and ovens emitted 10 to 50 instances extra benzene than electrical stoves. Induction cooktops emitted no detectable benzene by any means. The charges of benzene emitted throughout combustion have been tons of of instances increased than benzene emission charges recognized in different current research from unburned gasoline leaking into properties.

The researchers additionally examined whether or not meals being cooked emit benzene and located zero benzene emissions from pan-frying salmon or bacon. All benzene emissions the investigators measured got here from the gas used reasonably than any meals cooked.

A earlier Stanford-led research confirmed that gas-burning stoves inside U.S. properties leak methane with a local weather affect akin to the carbon dioxide emissions from about 500,000 gasoline-powered automobiles. Additionally they expose customers to pollution, comparable to nitrogen dioxide, which may set off respiratory ailments. A 2013 meta-analysis concluded that kids who dwell in properties with gasoline stoves had a 42% larger danger of bronchial asthma than kids residing in properties with out gasoline stoves, and a 2022 evaluation calculated that 12.7% of childhood bronchial asthma within the U.S. is attributable to gasoline stoves.

“I am renting an condo that occurs to have an electrical range,” mentioned research lead Yannai Kashtan, a graduate pupil in Earth system science. “Earlier than beginning this analysis, I by no means considered it twice, however the extra we find out about air pollution from gasoline stoves, the extra relieved I’m to be residing with no gasoline range.”