Highlights
- Stanford researchers found that gas stoves release benzene—a known carcinogen—during regular use in all homes tested.
- Children’s cancer risk from gas stove emissions is estimated to be 1.85 times higher than that of adults.
- Indoor benzene levels often exceeded those from secondhand tobacco smoke and surpassed WHO air quality limits.
- Electric and induction cooktops showed no benzene emissions, making them safer alternatives.
- High-efficiency vented range hoods (with a capture efficiency of 75% or more) significantly reduced indoor benzene exposure.
For millions of families, the sizzle of a gas stove means home-cooked comfort. But new research from Stanford University reveals that cooking with gas could be releasing a dangerous, invisible toxin—one that’s linked to cancer and disproportionately threatens children.
A peer-reviewed study published in Science of the Total Environment found that gas stoves across the United States emit benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels comparable to secondhand cigarette smoke. This startling finding raises serious public health questions about what we breathe while cooking—and what long-term effects it could have on developing lungs.
What the Study Found: Benzene Lurking in Everyday Kitchens
Gas Stoves Emitting a Hidden Carcinogen
The Stanford study, led by environmental scientist Rob Jackson, measured benzene emissions from residential gas stoves in 87 homes across California and Colorado. The results were sobering: benzene was detected in 100% of homes tested, often at levels exceeding exposure from secondhand tobacco smoke.
“We were shocked by how much benzene is being released indoors—even during short periods of use,” said Jackson in a press release from Stanford’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences.
Benzene is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), meaning there is no safe level of exposure. Long-term inhalation can cause leukemia and other blood disorders. What makes the study even more alarming is that benzene levels persisted for hours after the stove was turned off, silently contaminating indoor air.
Children Are Most at Risk
Children face a disproportionately higher cancer risk from indoor benzene exposure. According to the Stanford study, children’s cancer risk from gas stove emissions is estimated to be 1.85 times higher than that of adults. This is primarily due to their higher respiratory rates, developing organs, and longer potential lifetime exposure.
Environmental health experts warn that this makes kitchen air quality a child safety issue, not just a matter of personal health choice. What seems like a routine part of everyday life—cooking dinner—could silently impact a child’s long-term well-being.
Not Just Flames: Why Even “Unlit” Gas Stoves Are Dangerous
Gas Leaks Happen Even When Stoves Are Off
Previous Stanford research from 2022 had already shown that gas stoves leak methane even when not in use, contributing to climate change. This new study adds another layer of concern: toxic benzene is released even during routine use, with no visible warning.
Because the emission of benzene is odorless and colorless, families have no way of knowing they are being exposed.
Electric and Induction Cooktops Show No Emissions
Perhaps most striking is what the researchers didn’t find: no benzene was emitted from electric or induction cooktops. This suggests that switching away from gas appliances could significantly reduce indoor exposure to this harmful chemical.
Real-World Implications for Families and Policy
Millions at Risk
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 40 million American households use gas stoves. That’s tens of millions of people—including children—who may be unknowingly inhaling benzene every single day.
Some cities, like San Francisco and New York, have already begun banning gas hookups in new residential construction. This study is likely to accelerate the conversation around phasing out gas in favor of electric alternatives—not just for climate reasons, but for public health.
What Parents Can Do Now
- Improve ventilation: Use a range hood that vents outdoors, if available. Open windows and use fans when cooking.
- Limit exposure: Cook for shorter periods and avoid unnecessary use of gas burners.
- Consider electric alternatives: Even inexpensive portable induction cooktops can reduce risk.
- Push for transparency: Advocate for better appliance labeling and building codes that prioritize indoor air quality.
Why It Matters
This study is a wake-up call. What feels like the heart of the home may, in fact, be a silent threat, especially for the most vulnerable among us—our children.
Unlike outdoor air pollution, indoor air is unregulated in many parts of the world, and most people spend over 90% of their time inside. With clear evidence now linking gas stoves to harmful benzene exposure, the time for action—personal, political, and societal—has never been more urgent.