Study Finds High Benzene Levels in European Home Gas

A new study has revealed unexpectedly high levels of benzene, a potent carcinogen linked to leukemia and other blood cancers, in the domestic natural gas supplies of homes across the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Italy. Researchers from PSE Healthy Energy and Stanford University analyzed nearly 80 gas samples from 72 households in cities including London, Amsterdam, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Milan, finding concentrations far exceeding those typically seen in North American homes. The findings, published this week in Environmental Research Letters, highlight potential chronic exposure risks for millions of residents who rely on gas for cooking and heating.

The study detected benzene in every unburned gas sample tested, with average levels 37 times higher in the UK, 66 times higher in the Netherlands, and nine times higher in Italy compared to U.S. and Canadian benchmarks. In the UK, the highest reading came from a London home at 200 parts per million by volume, well above the European Union's annual limit of 1.6 parts per billion. Researchers also examined kitchens for leaks from stoves and ovens when appliances were turned off, discovering that 40 percent of the homes...