Flames burn on a natural gas-burning stove on January 12, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois.New research from Stanford University show gas stoves emit benzene, which is linked to cancer.Scott Olson/Getty Images When the blue flame fires up on a gas stove, there's more than heat coming off the burner.Researchers at Stanford University found that among the pollutants emitted from stoves is benzene, which is linked to cancer.