Gas and Propane Combustion from Stoves Emits Benzene and Increases Indoor Air Pollution

Kashtan, Yannai S.; Nicholson, Metta; Finnegan, Colin; Ouyang, Zutao; Lebel, Eric D.; Michanowicz, Drew R.; Shonkoff, Seth B.C.; Jackson, Robert B.

doi:10.1021/acs.est.2c09289

Gas and Propane Combustion from Stoves Emits Benzene and Increases Indoor Air Pollution

Journal Article · Thu Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c09289· OSTI ID:2470980

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Stanford University, CA (United States)
PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA (United States)
PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Stanford University, CA (United States); Woods Institute for the Environment and Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford, CA (United States)

Exposure pathways to the carcinogen benzene are well-established from tobacco smoke, oil and gas development, refining, gasoline pumping, and gasoline and diesel combustion. Combustion has also been linked to the formation of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde indoors from gas stoves. To our knowledge, however, no research has quantified the formation of benzene indoors from gas combustion by stoves. Across 87 homes in California and Colorado, natural gas and propane combustion emitted detectable and repeatable levels of benzene that in some homes raised indoor benzene concentrations above well-established health benchmarks. Mean benzene emissions from gas and propane burners on high and ovens set to 350 °F ranged from 2.8 to 6.5 μg min^–1, 10 to 25 times higher than emissions from electric coil and radiant alternatives; neither induction stoves nor the food being cooked emitted detectable benzene. Benzene produced by gas and propane stoves also migrated throughout homes, in some cases elevating bedroom benzene concentrations above chronic health benchmarks for hours after the stove was turned off. Combustion of gas and propane from stoves may be a substantial benzene exposure pathway and can reduce indoor air quality.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 2470980

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 57; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Engineering
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aromatic compounds
atmospheric chemistry
benzene emissions
electric and induction stoves
food
gas stoves
health
homes and residences
hydrocarbons
redox reactions

Gas and Propane Combustion from Stoves Emits Benzene and Increases Indoor Air Pollution

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