New Research Delivers Another Blow to Gas Stoves

Gas stoves are facing a bleak future due to recent studies revealing the harmful emissions they produce. A study conducted in 2022 found that gas appliances in homes release toxic substances like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Additionally, a more recent study highlighted by NPR emphasized the presence of benzene, a cancer-causing agent, in gas stoves. Stanford researchers published a paper in Environmental Science & Technology titled “Gas and Propane Combustion from Stoves Emits Benzene and Increases Indoor Air Pollution,” revealing that gas-stove burners emit more benzene than secondhand smoke, according to the New York Times. Furthermore, another study linked 13% of childhood asthma cases to gas stoves.

Senior author Rob Jackson stated in a press release, “Good ventilation helps reduce pollutant concentrations, but we found that exhaust fans were often ineffective at eliminating benzene exposure.” This study is the first to specifically focus on benzene, a chemical associated with leukemia and lymphoma. The New York Times quotes doctors saying that no level of exposure to benzene is safe. The Stanford team investigated 87 homes in Colorado and California, including those with propane-fueled stoves. In all cases, they detected repeatable levels of benzene that exceeded established health benchmarks.

The gas industry responded critically to the study, with the National Propane Gas Association claiming that Stanford failed to analyze real-world environments. While the industry has previously blamed cooking processes, such as pan-frying, for the emission of pollutants, the researchers assert that all the benzene emissions in their study originated from the stove itself. Medical professionals have taken the potential risks of using gas in homes seriously, with oncologist Janice L. Kirsch stating, “Benzene is the stuff nightmares are made of,” according to the Times.