Full Title: Exposure and Health Risks of Benzene from Combustion by Gas Stoves: A Modelling Approach in U.S. Homes
Author(s): 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
Publisher(s): ScienceDirect
Publication Date: May 29, 2025
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
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. The cumulative Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risks (ILTCR) often exceeded the WHO safe threshold of 1E-06, particularly for children, whose ILTCR was 1.85 times higher (95 % CI: 1.43–2.12) than for adults in most of the high and medium gas stove usage scenarios. While cancer risks were elevated, non-cancer outcomes had hazard quotients < 1 in all scenarios. Ventilation mitigated risks, with high-efficiency (≥75 %) vented hoods notably reducing benzene exposure in kitchens. The study underscores the importance of addressing combustion-related indoor air pollutants to protect public health, particularly in households with limited ventilation.