Researchers find 40% of kitchens have chronic gas leaks, with highest readings in London

• Researchers discovered the carcinogen benzene in all 72 domestic gas samples collected across the UK, Netherlands, and Italy, including samples from London, Edinburgh, Manchester, and St. Neots.
• The highest benzene reading in the UK was 200ppmv in London, significantly exceeding the EU's annual limit value of 1.6ppbv.
• The World Health Organization says that there is no safe exposure level for the substance.
• The study found that 40 per cent of kitchens in the surveyed countries had chronic gas leaks, with approximately 9 per cent of homes having leaks large enough to surpass national benzene exposure limits.
• Calculated benzene exposure from larger gas leaks in the UK was found to be worse than living with a smoker, in terms of benzene intake alone.

IN FULL

‘Eye-popping’ levels of carcinogen found in UK gas supply, researchers warn