A recent study has revealed that gas stoves, commonly used in approximately five million Australian households, significantly increase the risk of cancer in children, nearly doubling that of adults.
The study, conducted by researchers from Stanford University, found that gas stoves emit benzene, a known carcinogen found in substances like petrol, cigarette smoke, and paint strippers. Prolonged exposure to benzene has been linked to leukaemia and other blood cancers.
The researchers highlighted that children are particularly vulnerable to the carcinogenic effects of benzene due to their faster breathing rates and smaller body sizes. They found that the cancer risk for children in homes with medium to high gas stove usage and inadequate ventilation is 1.85 times greater than that of adults.
The study emphasized that there is no safe limit for benzene exposure, urging the need for better ventilation and suggesting a switch to electric stoves as a safer alternative. The findings, to be published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, also underscore the growing concern over gas stoves, which are linked to other health risks such as asthma and heart disease.
In response to such concerns, some Australian states, including Victoria and the ACT, have started restricting new gas connections as part of environmental and health initiatives.
