Does Cooking on Gas Stoves Cause Cancer?

According to the United States Energy Information Administration, there are roughly 47 million American households that have gas stoves in them.

For years, gas stoves were believed to be an economic alternative to electric ranges, which is why so many homes continue to rely on them.

However, studies that have been conducted over the last couple of years indicate that these stoves may be linked to cancer diagnoses due to chemicals that they emit, even when they’re not in use.

Do Gas Stoves Cause Cancer?

Gas stoves emit a blue flame under the burners that are activated. However, scientists agree that there is more than heat coming from those flames.

While gas stoves have long been popular because of their energy efficiency and cooking capabilities, these popular appliances may lead to numerous health issues, including cancer, according to researchers.

One study published in October of 2022 by the Environmental Science and Technology journal found that gas stoves emit up to 12 chemicals when in use, including benzene, a chemical that has been linked directly to cancer, which we will discuss more in a moment.

This 2022 study, headed up by a group from PSE Health Energy, a non-profit group, took samples of the gas used in 159 homes that were in 16 counties in California. Benzene was found in a staggering 99% of the samples that the group collected.

These researchers took a deeper dive into the number and calculated the amount of benzene that the household was exposed to based on the size of the kitchen, the ventilation of the space, and how much gas the stove emits into the home.

To make things even more concerning, researchers found that most of the stoves continue to leak gas, which contains benzene, even when they’re not on. This means that homes with gas stoves likely deal with benzene exposure even when their stoves are not in use.

Another 2022 research project, conducted by a team from Stanford University, produced similar results to the study that we just discussed. The group from Stanford measured the amount of gas produced by gas stoves in 87 homes in California and Colorado.

After studying the stoves and the gas emissions in those 87 homes, this team of researchers found that gas stoves and even propane stoves "emitted detectable and repeatable levels of benzene that in some homes raised indoor benzene concentrations above well-established health benchmarks."

According to experts, a gas stove with a single burner burning at 350 degrees Fahrenheit emits benzene at higher levels than cigarette smoke. We have known for decades that cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke, is linked to cancer diagnoses.

They also found that benzene levels were not contained in the kitchen, even when using a vent hood. A portion of the homes that were studied as part of this project were multi-floor homes. In every home where a gas stove was present, benzene was found in every other room.

This means that when the gas stove is turned off and is still emitting benzene, that benzene is getting into bedrooms, living rooms, and other areas of the home.

While this information is certainly startling, it’s important that this information gets out, as people may be unknowingly putting themselves at risk.

The Link Between Benzene and Cancer

For years, researchers have known that benzene is directly linked to cancer.

More specifically, prolonged exposure to benzene has been shown to cause blood cancers like leukemia. This is because of how the body metabolizes benzene once it’s inhaled.

Unlike some other airborne pathogens, benzene is actually processed by the liver. Unfortunately, the liver cannot fully metabolize the chemical, which leads to it getting into the blood and the bone marrow.

The presence of benzene in the bone marrow alters the way that the body produces red blood cells, which is directly linked to leukemia.

The impact of benzene has been linked to other cancers, as well. Because of the alterations that it makes to the DNA, benzene has also been linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

According to Rob Jackson, a Stanford University professor of earth sciences, "Benzene forms in flames and other high-temperature environments, such as the flares found in oil fields and refineries. We now know that benzene also forms in the flames of gas stoves in our homes.”

Do Gas Stoves Cause Other Health Problems?

Gas stoves causing cancer is an alarming concept, but it’s also believed that gas stoves may be linked to asthma and other respiratory issues.

The Asthma Society of Canada (ASC) did a detailed study that focused on the possible link between gas stoves and asthma, and the results are startling.

In conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the ASC found that asthma diagnoses increase by 50% every 10 years.

In Canada, one out of every 12 people had asthma in 2009, a figure that represents 25 million people, or 8% of the population. This number was up from 20 million, or 7% of the population only eight years earlier in 2001.

Jonathan Levy, who works at Boston University as Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health published an article after researching the indoor air quality in homes across North America. This study was cited by the Asthma Society of Canada in their research on gas stoves.

Levy found that the millions of homes across the US and Canada that rely on gas stoves are more likely to have at least one member of the household dealing with asthma than homes that use electric stoves.

This is because gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide, which is the same gas that comes from combustion engines. Scientists have known for decades that nitrogen dioxide causes asthma and a host of other respiratory issues, so this finding is not all that surprising.

What Does the Gas Industry Say?

The American Gas Association (AGA) represents a multitude of natural gas companies across the United States.

In 2023, the AGA published a study that refutes the claim that gas stoves emit benzene even when they’re not in use. When asked about the link between gas stoves and asthma cases, the AGA acknowledged that they’re still studying the data.

Many gas companies have long been working to develop new burners that emit less gas than existing options. However, stove manufacturers appear hesitant to use them, based largely on the increased cost of the new technology. For now, it appears that everything will remain as it has been.

What Should I Do If I Have a Gas Stove?

With all of this information in mind, you may be wondering what you should do if you rely on a gas stove in your kitchen.

Experts across multiple nations who have studied the effects of benzene, nitrogen dioxide, and other chemicals emitted by gas stoves agree that the safest option is to stop relying on gas and switch to an electric stove.

However, installing a new stove and ensuring that your electrical panel is ready to handle that amount of electricity is an expense that many homeowners are hesitant to take on.

If you’re unsure about moving on from your gas stove, experts agree that you should do everything to maximize ventilation when the stove is in use.

This includes using the fan in the hood above your stove, opening windows in your kitchen, and if you have a ceiling fan in the room, making sure that it’s on while the stove is in use.