Researchers at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and international experts have confirmed that the use of gas stoves and ovens exposes families to benzene, a volatile organic compound recognized internationally as a carcinogen.
According to scientific evidence, a single lit burner or an oven operating at 180°C can raise the concentration of this gas above the levels inhaled by a passive smoker.
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“Benzene is regulated because it is a recognized carcinogen. Long-term exposure is associated with increases in the incidence of cancer in the population, such as leukemia,” warns Professor Jorquera, pollution expert.
The risk is not limited to cooking: the study reveals that benzene moves throughout the home and remains suspended in the air for hours, affecting the central nervous system, the immune system and damaging cellular genetic material.
Chronic leaks: the danger with the kitchen turned off
The most disturbing thing about the research published in Environmental Research Letters is that the risk persists even with the kitchen turned off. An analysis carried out in homes in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Italy detected that 40% of kitchens have constant gas leaks.
These chronic leaks often go unnoticed because levels of sulfur (the compound that gives the “rotten egg smell”) are too low in Europe to be detected by the human nose in small concentrations.
Dr. Tamara Sparks, lead author of the study, highlights the seriousness of the situation on the continent: “It is likely that many people are chronically exposed to benzene without knowing it.”
The data is revealing: in cities like London, records of up to 200 ppmv have been detected, drastically exceeding the annual limit value of 1.6 ppbv established by the European Union. Compared to North America, benzene levels in European gas are up to 66 times higher in some countries.
Impact on the immune system and risk of leukemia
The National Cancer Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO) agree that there is no safe level of exposure to benzene. This substance, naturally present in crude oil, acts as a disruptor in the production of blood cells.
- Genetic Damage: Prolonged exposure alters the DNA of cells, facilitating the appearance of hematological diseases.
- Nervous System: May cause dizziness and chronic fatigue with constant exposure.
- ‘Smoking’ effect: In the most serious cases detected in Europe, a person who lives with these leaks inhales an amount of benzene comparable to living with someone who smokes 20 cigarettes a day.
How to reduce risk at home
Experts suggest immediate mitigation measures, although they insist that the definitive solution is electrification.
- Cross ventilation: Benzene is extremely volatile. Opening windows and doors generates a current that allows the compounds to leave the home in a few minutes.
- Burner maintenance: An orange flame indicates poor combustion and greater production of toxic particles. The target should always be a light blue flame.
- Transition to induction: Scientists such as Alastair Lewis, from the University of York, point out that “eliminating gas appliances and electrifying them represents a clear improvement for indoor air quality.”
And, as medicine and science warn: the air we breathe while cooking could be as decisive for our health as the food we prepare.