Chemical from Gas Stove Linked to a Greater Risk of Leukemia

According to a recent study, using gas stoves can raise the amount of benzene in indoor air, a substance associated to an increased risk of leukemia and other blood cell malignancies.

A single gas cooktop burner set on high or a gas oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit can increase indoor levels of benzene above those generally emitted by secondhand cigarette smoke, according to analysis of dozens of stoves.

According to a study published on June 15 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, benzene released by gas stoves can also float throughout a house and stay for hours.

Flares observed in oil fields and refineries are examples of high-temperature situations where benzene can develop. According to senior study author Rob Jackson, "we now know that benzene also occurs in the flames of gas stoves in our homes. At Stanford University's Doerr School of Sustainability, he teaches Earth system science.

In a Stanford news release, Jackson stated, "Good ventilation helps reduce pollutant concentrations, but we found that exhaust fans were frequently ineffective at removing benzene exposure."

The latest study, according to the researchers, is the first to examine benzene emissions from a gas stove or oven in operation.

Since the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about gas stoves, they have become somewhat of a political football.

Gas Stove Chemical Tied to Higher Risk of Leukemia - source USA NEWS