*Warning* If you have a gas Stove, you may want to switch to electric!

There is more than just heat emanating from the burner when a gas stove's blue flame ignites. The cancer-causing substance benzene was discovered to be one of the contaminants released from stoves by Stanford University researchers.

According to the research, benzene pollution can spread throughout a home and levels of benzene can be higher than those found in secondhand smoke.

The findings add to a growing body of research demonstrating that indoor pollutants are more dangerous than homeowners of gas stoves had been encouraged to think. Additionally, it occurs at a time when the nation's continuing culture conflicts have been linked to stoves.

For the article that was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology in 2022, Stanford scientists analyzed benzene from gas stoves in 87 homes in California and Colorado. The researchers discovered that both natural gas and propane stoves "emitted detectable and repeatable levels of benzene that raised indoor benzene concentrations in some homes above well-established health benchmarks."

The dangers of benzene are well understood. Leukemia and other blood cell malignancies have been linked to the chemical, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Flares observed in oil fields and refineries are examples of high-temperature situations where benzene can develop. In a statement, Rob Jackson stated, "We now know that benzene also occurs in the flames of gas burners in our homes. He is an earth sciences professor at Stanford and the study's lead author.

The researchers discovered that benzene levels in a home can be worse than typical levels for secondhand smoke when one burner is set to high or the oven is set to 350 degrees. Additionally, they discovered that the poison can spread to other areas, such bedrooms, and is not limited to the kitchen.

Jackson stated, "Good ventilation aids in lowering pollutant concentrations, but we discovered that exhaust fans frequently failed to completely remove benzene exposure." He claims that this is the first study to examine benzene emissions from an operating stove or oven.

Researchers also investigated if food preparation, such as pan-frying salmon or bacon, releases benzene, but they discovered that the gas, not the food, was the source of all pollution. This is significant since the gas industry frequently blames respiratory issues that can be brought on by cooking fumes for concerns about pollution caused by its fuel.

There are no studies that indicate using gas to cook will make someone ill. The main focus of this is raising the risk for various ailments.

The American Gas Association, which speaks for natural gas companies, frequently questions the validity of studies suggesting that burning natural gas in residences can have negative health effects. A peer-reviewed study that revealed gas stoves leak benzene even when they are off was condemned by the influential trade association last year. Similar criticism was made by the AGA of a 2022 analysis, which revealed that the use of gas stoves in homes is responsible for 12.7% of childhood asthma cases in the United States.

In an email, the AGA stated that it was still reviewing the report. In a response to NPR, the National Propane Gas Association attempted to cast doubt on the peer-reviewed study. The Stanford report, according to the NPGA, "fails to analyze real-world environments," and proposes that when using gas to cook, "air quality can be managed through numerous measures, including ventilation options such as range hoods or exhaust fans."

Medical professionals are beginning to oppose using gas for cooking. The main cause for concern has been nitrogen dioxide emissions, which can lead to respiratory conditions like asthma. Gas cooking stoves have been dubbed "a public health concern" by the American Public Health Association, and the American Medical Association has issued a warning that cooking with gas increases the incidence of childhood asthma.

After Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Commissioner Richard Trumka, Jr. stated that the government should pursue stronger regulation of new gas stoves early this year, gas stoves also became a topic of cultural conflict.

Recently, two pieces of legislation limiting new regulations on gas stoves were presented and enacted by lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, which is under Republican control. The "Save Our Gas Stoves Act" is one that would prevent the Department of Energy from enforcing proposed range energy efficiency standards. The "Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act" is another that would stop the CPSC from outlawing or further restricting the sale of gas stoves. With Democrats in charge of both the White House and the U.S. Senate, it seems improbable that either of the bills will be passed into law.

WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

Gas utilities have long studied the indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves and have even created new types of burners with reduced gas consumption and nitrogen dioxide emissions. However, manufacturers refuse to utilize them, claiming that consumers aren't seeking them and that they are more expensive and difficult to clean.

But there are some things you may do if you're concerned about the pollution caused by using a gas burner to cook. The most obvious is to transition from gas to electric cooking.

There are efforts in place to persuade individuals to do that for environmental and health reasons. Methane, a strong greenhouse gas that escapes into the atmosphere along the whole gas supply chain, is the primary component of natural gas.

Although there are less expensive temporary fixes, replacing a stove is pricey. Consumer Reports offers recommendations on where to get a portable induction cooktop. The amount of time spent using a gas stove can be decreased by using alternative plug-in equipment, such as toasters.

And because to the climate-focused Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed last year, there are now government incentives available when it comes time to replace your stove.