Stanford professor's shock discovery links gas stoves to cancer risk

Professor Rob Jackson's research discovered that gas stoves emit large amounts of benzene. People exposed to long-term contact with this chemical substance can develop leukemia and other blood cancers. Although benzene is a component of tobacco smoke, its concentration in the air caused by using gas stoves can be significantly higher than in the case of passive inhalation of tobacco smoke.

"Seeing the concentrations of pollutants rise so quickly in my own home and thinking about that occurring day after day after day was a motivation to change," said Professor Jackson in an interview with the press after he removed the gas stove from his home.

He was prompted by testing the pollution measurement methods in his own home.

Benzene is produced during combustion, which exposes smokers, people near fires, and people breathing polluted air in cities. Studies conducted in 87 homes in California and Colorado found that in about 30 percent of cases, using gas stoves caused higher benzene concentrations than those experienced by passive smokers.

Research published in June 2023 showed that the benzene problem is not limited to the kitchen — this gas spreads throughout the home and can even reach bedrooms. High benzene concentrations could persist in poorly ventilated areas even after turning off the stove.

The age and brand of the gas stove did not significantly affect the amount of benzene emitted. Although proper ventilation could reduce exposure to this chemical compound, the research showed that not all ventilation systems were adequate. In some cases, recirculating systems caused gases to return indoors.

The findings by Professor Jackson's team could provide an argument for proponents of eliminating gas installations from buildings. This is especially true since induction electric cooktops do not emit benzene. Earlier studies have shown that using gas stoves could be responsible for up to 13 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S.