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

A chemical linked to a better threat of leukemia and different blood cell cancers creeps into hundreds of thousands of properties each time residents mild their fuel stoves. A brand new Stanford-led evaluation finds {that a} single fuel cooktop burner on excessive or a fuel oven set to 350 levels Fahrenheit can elevate indoor ranges of the carcinogen benzene above these in secondhand tobacco smoke. Benzene additionally drifts all through a house and lingers for hours in house air, in response to 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 fuel stoves in our properties. Good air flow helps cut 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 Faculty of Sustainability

Worse than secondhand smoke

Total, the researchers discovered that indoor concentrations of benzene shaped within the flames of fuel 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 decreasing concentrations of benzene and different pollution, even when the hoods vent outside.

The brand new paper is the primary to research benzene emissions when a range or oven is in use. Earlier research centered on leaks from stoves when they’re off, and didn’t instantly measure ensuing benzene concentrations. The researchers discovered fuel 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 a whole lot of instances larger than benzene emission charges recognized in different latest research from unburned fuel 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 slightly 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 similar to the carbon dioxide emissions from about 500,000 gasoline-powered vehicles. Additionally they expose customers to pollution, akin to nitrogen dioxide, which might set off respiratory ailments. A 2013 meta-analysis concluded that youngsters who reside in properties with fuel stoves had a 42% better threat of bronchial asthma than youngsters dwelling in properties with out fuel stoves, and a 2022 evaluation calculated that 12.7% of childhood bronchial asthma within the U.S. is attributable to fuel stoves.

“I am renting an residence that occurs to have an electrical range,” mentioned research lead Yannai Kashtan, a graduate scholar in Earth system science. “Earlier than beginning this analysis, I by no means thought of it twice, however the extra we find out about air pollution from fuel stoves, the extra relieved I’m to be dwelling and not using a fuel range.”