EcoWatch
Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k Subscribe Subscribe
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
      • Top Companies By State
        • California Solar Companies
        • Texas Solar Companies
        • New York Solar Companies
        • Florida Solar Companies
        • See All States
      • Top Incentives By State
        • California Solar Incentives
        • Texas Solar Incentives
        • New York Solar Incentives
        • Florida Solar Incentives
        • See All States
      • Solar Panel Costs By State
        • Solar Panel Costs in California
        • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
        • Solar Panel Costs in New York
        • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
        • See All States
      • Value of Solar by State
        • Is Solar Worth It In California?
        • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
        • Is Solar Worth It New York?
        • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
        • See All States
      • Company Reviews
        • Tesla Solar Review
        • Sunrun Solar Review
        • SunPower Solar Review
        • Vivint Solar Review
        • See All Companies
      • Common Solar Questions
        • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
        • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
        • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
        • Can You Finance Solar?
        • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
        • Payback On Solar Panels?
      • Solar Resources
        • Interactive Solar Calculator
        • Federal Solar Tax Credit
        • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
        • Tesla Solar Roof Review
        • Cheapest Solar Panels
      • Companies Compared
        • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
        • SunRun vs SunPower
        • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
        • SunPower vs ADT Solar
EcoWatch
  • Climate
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Food + Agriculture
  • Renewables
  • Oceans
  • Policy
  • Insights + Opinion
  • Go Solar Today
    • Go Solar Today
    • Top Companies By State
      • California Solar Companies
      • Texas Solar Companies
      • New York Solar Companies
      • Florida Solar Companies
      • See All States
    • Top Incentives By State
      • California Solar Incentives
      • Texas Solar Incentives
      • New York Solar Incentives
      • Florida Solar Incentives
      • See All States
    • Solar Panel Costs By State
      • Solar Panel Costs in California
      • Solar Panel Costs in Texas
      • Solar Panel Costs in New York
      • Solar Panel Costs in Florida
      • See All States
    • Value of Solar by State
      • Is Solar Worth It In California?
      • Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
      • Is Solar Worth It New York?
      • Is Solar Worth It In Florida?
      • See All States
    • Company Reviews
      • Tesla Solar Review
      • Sunrun Solar Review
      • SunPower Solar Review
      • Vivint Solar Review
      • See All Companies
    • Common Solar Questions
      • Can You Get Free Solar Panels?
      • Does Solar Increase Home Value?
      • What’re The Best Solar Batteries?
      • Can You Finance Solar?
      • Where To Buy Solar Panels?
      • Payback On Solar Panels?
    • Solar Resources
      • Interactive Solar Calculator
      • Federal Solar Tax Credit
      • Best Solar Panels For Most Homes
      • Tesla Solar Roof Review
      • Cheapest Solar Panels
    • Companies Compared
      • SunPower vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs Tesla Solar
      • SunRun vs SunPower
      • SunPower vs Momentum Solar
      • SunPower vs ADT Solar

The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    EcoWatch
    • About EcoWatch
    • Contact EcoWatch
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Learn About Solar Energy
    Facebook 558k Twitter 222k Instagram 52k
    Home Health + Wellness

    Benzene Leaking From 99% of Gas Stoves in California Homes, Study Finds

    By: Paige Bennett
    Published: October 20, 2022
    Edited by Chris McDermott
    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon
    Blue flames rise from the burner of a natural gas stove in California
    Blue flames rise from the burner of a natural gas stove in Orange, California. David McNew / Getty Images
    Why you can trust us

    Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

    Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

    In a study of 159 homes all around California, researchers found that gas stoves are leaking harmful gases, like benzene, which was found in 99% of samples. The leaks are happening even when appliances are turned off, the study found. The authors say more research is necessary to determine how many homes are having these leaks.

    The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, involved trace gas analyses on 185 unburned natural gas samples from 159 homes located in seven geographic regions around the state. California has the highest percentage of gas stove owners in the U.S., with 70% of households cooking with gas-powered stoves and/or ovens. In 99% of the samples collected for the study, benzene leaks were detected. 

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzene prevents cells from working properly. It can cause various problems, like damaging the immune system or leading to anemia. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has also classified the gas as “carcinogenic to humans.”

    The analyses also found toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes (BTEX). Toluene can lead to nerve, liver and kidney damage. Breathing in ethylbenzene can cause throat and eye irritation and dizziness and has led to hearing and kidney damage in animals, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Total xylenes exposure can also lead to eye, throat and nose irritation as well as headaches, dizziness, loss of muscle coordination and even death at high levels.

    The authors found that these leaks occurring while stoves are off can cause indoor benzene concentrations to exceed exposure level of 0.94 ppbv considered safe by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

    “What our science shows is that people in California are exposed to potentially hazardous levels of benzene from the gas that is piped into their homes,” said Drew Michanowicz, a study co-author and senior scientist at PSE Healthy Energy, as reported by The Associated Press. “We hope that policymakers will consider this data when they are making policy to ensure current and future policies are health-protective in light of this new research.”

    The report also estimated that there are 4,200 kilograms (over 4.6 tons) of benzene emissions per year leaking from outdoor pipes that are unaccounted for by the state — the equivalent of the yearly benzene emissions from about 60,000 light-duty gas-fueled vehicles.

    Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

      By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

      Paige Bennett

      Based in Los Angeles, Paige is a writer who is passionate about sustainability. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University and holds a certificate in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She also specialized in sustainable agriculture while pursuing her undergraduate degree.
      Facebook icon Twitter icon Pinterest icon Email icon

      Read More

      Trump EPA Announces Major Weakening of Power Plant Emissions Rules
      The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
      Trump Administration Fires Entire Content Team of Major NOAA Climate Website
      In an apparent attempt to dismantle Climate.gov, a major United
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
      Trump Plans to ‘Wean off of FEMA' After Hurricane Season, Saying States Can ‘Handle It’
      President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he is planning to
      By Cristen Hemingway Jaynes

      Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter!

        By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content.

        Latest Articles

        • Collapse of AMOC Could Bring ‘Profound Cooling’ to Northern Europe: Study
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 12, 2025
        • Trump EPA Announces Major Weakening of Power Plant Emissions Rules
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 12, 2025
        • High Levels of Mercury Found in Alligators in Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia
          by Paige Bennett
          June 12, 2025
        • Trump Administration Fires Entire Content Team of Major NOAA Climate Website
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 11, 2025
        • Trump Plans to ‘Wean off of FEMA’ After Hurricane Season, Saying States Can ‘Handle It’
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 11, 2025
        • U.S. Produced Record Amount of Energy in 2024, EIA Reports
          by Paige Bennett
          June 11, 2025
        • 37 Countries Commit to Tackling ‘Invisible Yet Powerful Threat’ of Ocean Noise Pollution
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 11, 2025
        • 18 New Countries Ratify High Seas Treaty at 2025 UN Ocean Conference
          by Cristen Hemingway Jaynes
          June 10, 2025
        EcoWatch

        The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter!

          • Climate Climate
          • Animals Animals
          • Health + Wellness Health + Wellness
          • Insights + Opinion Insights + Opinion
          • Adventure Adventure
          • Oceans Oceans
          • Business Business
          • Solar Solar
          • About EcoWatch
          • Contact EcoWatch
          • EcoWatch Reviews
          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Learn About Solar Energy
          • Learn About Deregulated Energy
          • EcoWatch UK
          Follow Us
          Facebook 558k
          Twitter 222k
          Instagram 52k
          Subscribe Subscribe

          Experts for a healthier planet and life.

          Mentioned by:
          Learn more
          • Privacy Policy
          • Terms of Use
          • Cookie Preferences
          • Do Not Sell My Information
          © 2025 EcoWatch. All Rights Reserved.

          Advertiser Disclosure

          Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.

          The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.