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

ABSTRACT: 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.

SUBMITTER: Kashtan YS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10324305 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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

Kashtan Yannai S YS Nicholson Metta M Finnegan Colin C Ouyang Zutao Z Lebel Eric D ED Michanowicz Drew R DR Shonkoff Seth B C SBC Jackson Robert B RB

Environmental science & technology 20230615 26

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 ...[more]

PMID: 37319002

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Project description:BackgroundIndoor air pollution, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), is a major risk factor for pneumonia and other respiratory diseases. Biomass-burning cookstoves are major contributors to PM2.5 and CO concentrations. However, high concentrations of PM2.5 (> 1000 μg/m3) have been observed in homes in Dhaka, Bangladesh that do not burn biomass. We described dispersion of PM2.5 and CO from biomass burning into nearby homes in a low-income urban area of Dhaka, Bangladesh.MethodsWe recruited 10 clusters of homes, each with one biomass-burning (index) home, and 3-4 neighboring homes that used cleaner fuels with no other major sources of PM2.5 or CO. We administered a questionnaire and recorded physical features of all homes. Over 24 h, we recorded PM2.5 and CO concentrations inside each home, near each stove, and outside one neighbor home per cluster. During 8 of these 24 h, we conducted observations for pollutant-generating activities such as cooking. For each monitor, we calculated geometric mean PM2.5 concentrations at 5-6 am (baseline), during biomass burning times, during non-cooking times, and over 24 h. We used linear regressions to describe associations between monitor location and PM2.5 and CO concentrations.ResultsWe recruited a total of 44 homes across the 10 clusters. Geometric mean PM2.5 and CO concentrations for all monitors were lowest at baseline and highest during biomass burning. During biomass burning, linear regression showed a decreasing trend of geometric mean PM2.5 and CO concentrations from the biomass stove (326.3 μg/m3, 12.3 ppm), to index home (322.7 μg/m3, 11.2 ppm), neighbor homes sharing a wall with the index home (278.4 μg/m3, 3.6 ppm), outdoors (154.2 μg/m3, 0.7 ppm), then neighbor homes that do not share a wall with the index home (83.1 μg/m3,0.2 ppm) (p = 0.03 for PM2.5, p = 0.006 for CO).ConclusionBiomass burning in one home can be a source of indoor air pollution for several homes. The impact of biomass burning on PM2.5 or CO is greatest in homes that share a wall with the biomass-burning home. Eliminating biomass burning in one home may improve air quality for several households in a community.

Project description:Because most people spend the majority of their time in microenvironments, indoor air pollution (IAP) has gained more attention than outdoor air pollution recently. It is indeed crucial to understand IAP sources and the factors that influence human exposure. We synthesized evidence on IAP levels and contributing factors in Ethiopia from available literature, utilizing findings from 19 studies to retrieve 66 relevant values. Particulate matters (PM2.5, PM4, PM10, and TSP), as well as gaseous pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), were analyzed. The calculated mean concentrations for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, TVOCs, and CO were 477.47 μg/m3, 228.38 μg/m3, 63.84 μg/m3, 1361.79 μg/m3, and 18.82 ppm, respectively, all of which exceeded the annual WHO exposure guidelines. Geographical location, stove type, and household activities showed a variation in pollutants concentration. The higher levels of pollutants were attributed to emissions from biomass fuel used for baking injera, wot preparation, and conducting a coffee ceremony, as well as poor ventilation, season, cooking time, and tobacco smoke. The health risk assessments for exposure to various domestic activities were found to be acceptable, except for PM10, with the highest correlation with an acute respiratory infection. Although improved cookstove technology has been proposed as a sustainable energy source, investigations in Ethiopia have revealed that there is still room for public health protection. There is a paucity of research on the relationship between indoor and outdoor air pollution. Future research should prioritize these issues, with a focus on the link between IAP exposure and health effects. In conclusion, there is a higher IAP concentration in Ethiopia so the community should be made aware of it as well as related health effects, and immediate mitigation measures are needed to achieve a reduction in exposure.

Dataset Information

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

Publications

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

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