REACTION: High levels of benzene in European gas supply, study finds

London – High levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene have been discovered in the domestic gas supply for multiple Western European cities in a study by US researchers.

Published today, researchers from PSE Healthy Energy and Stanford University found that in parts of Europe, commonly occurring, odourless gas leaks can expose people to benzene levels that exceed health-based limits, while large outdoor leaks can contaminate air across entire communities. In total, 40% of gas stoves that PSE tested were leaking while turned off at the time of measurement.

Benzene has no safe exposure level, according to the World Health Organization, and is associated with leukaemia and other long-term adverse health effects and diseases. 

The study is the first to measure gas leaks when stoves are off in homes in Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK, providing new evidence of the health risk posed by benzene in indoor and outdoor gas leaks in the European region.

Healthier and safer alternatives to gas stoves exist, and their use is on the rise. The Global Cooksafe Coalition exists to promote these solutions, working closely with chefs and property companies in mainland Europe, the UK and beyond. 

Commenting on the findings, Global Cooksafe Coalition Director, Monica Burns, said: “This new study adds to the growing body of evidence that highlights the concerning impact that gas stoves can have on our health. These findings must ensure gas leakage is treated as a public health issue.

“Households can make changes to protect themselves. Transitioning to electric cooktops is one of the simplest steps you can make to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals like benzene. It’s vital that governments provide families and businesses with the support needed to make this transition.”

The researchers found that levels of sulfur-based odorants added to gas were insufficient to warn residents of gas leaks that could pose a health risk. In London, for example, benzene concentrations could reach almost 40 times above health limits before most people could smell a leak.

Global Cooksafe Coalition Europe Programme Manager, Tushar Nair, said: “We’ve always known that electric cooking was safer, but this study highlights the extent to which moving to induction could impact household wellbeing. With EU legislation like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in place in Europe, we hope this study will help catalyse electrification across the continent and ensure that cooking doesn’t get left off of renovation plans across the region.”

Overall, researchers found benzene in all 72 domestic gas samples collected in homes in the UK, the Netherlands and Italy. They found that UK gas samples had 37 times more benzene than in typical North American gas, on average, while Dutch samples had 66.5 times more. Gas in London was found to contain 64 times, and Amsterdam 73 times, the benzene concentration of typical North American gas, on average. Milan, the only Italian city studied, had 8.5 times more.