Exposure and health risks of benzene from combustion by gas stoves

from Journal of Hazardous Materials

Volume 492, 15 July 2025

contributors: Anchal Garg, Yannai Kashtan, Metta Nicholson, Colin J. Finnegan, Eric D. Lebel, Drew R. Michanowicz, Seth B.C. Shonkoff, Kari C. Nadeau, Robert B. Jackson

Natural gas and propane stoves emit benzene, a known carcinogen through combustion. This study evaluates population-level benzene exposure and associated health risks for the 6.3 million U.S. residents exposed to the top 5 % highest benzene-emitting gas stoves. We used the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s CONTAM, a multizone indoor air quality model, to simulate benzene concentration distributions across 24 floorplans by integrating benzene emission rates with U.S. housing stock data. Health risks were assessed using the USEPA Health Risk Assessment methodology under scenarios of low, medium, and high stove usage with ventilated (open windows or/and hoods) and non-ventilated conditions. The results show that gas stove emissions significantly elevate cancer risks in homes with medium to high gas stove usage and inadequate ventilation.