However, McBride still believes candles have the potential to be "very toxic" depending on the materials used to make them. Specifically, "lower-quality waxes, and synthetic, inorganic oils. Karin Grow , a San Diego-based artist and candlemaker who has made, sold, and distributed candles wholesale for nearly two decades, says she lives a healthy, organic life, and feels her candles fit in line with that lifestyle.
So, unfortunately, the answer to the question "are candles bad for you? There is potential for toxicity, but the line is fuzzy; it's likely that you would have to be burning a lot of candles, for many consecutive hours, in a poorly ventilated room to experience negative effects. And when it comes to the type of candle you're burning, various factors — including the wick, wax, scent, and your own sensitivities — all come into play.
Wick toxicity has historically been the biggest concern, but that should be a thing of the past. Wicks that contained lead could potentially cause lead poisoning if the fumes were inhaled, explains Dr. The good news: "Most manufacturers stopped using leaded wicks in the s, and they were officially banned by the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission in , along with imported candles containing lead," he says.
That said, anything that's combustible meaning, can catch fire can release carbon and soot via smoke, says Grow. Soot is the black substance you see around the wick or on the surface of the wax after a candle has been burned.
The amount of soot coming off your candle likely isn't dangerous, but you still want to avoid directly inhaling smoke for that reason. Perhaps not. Most candles are made with paraffin wax , which is petroleum-based since it's a byproduct of making gasoline, says Dr. The cleanest choice is probably beeswax, which people have been burning for thousands of years, although it's likely the most expensive.
FWIW, the European Candle Association publicly questioned the validity of the aforementioned study — further underscoring the debated nature of the topic — but the experts here all agree that natural waxes may be a smart choice if you're at all concerned at all about candle safety. Among the "ways to avoid some of the air pollutants — which, again, are still debated in terms of their safety in candles — would be to buy candles made from natural waxes instead of paraffin waxes," agrees Brummit.
Often these waxes will be 'fragrance-free' but still have their own naturally pleasant scent. They penetrate deeply into the lungs and are absorbed into the blood stream.
Ultrafine particles are associated with allergies, asthma and other respiratory diseases, as well as heart attacks, strokes and even cancer. And a study by the U. Environmental Protection Agency showed that soot emissions from candles containing fragrances are significantly higher than those from non-scented candles. Another problem with scented candles is that the chemicals they use to create a pleasing aroma are generally far from wholesome.
Most scented candles use synthetic fragrances and dyes that give off dangerous VOCs even at room temperature. Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. These harmful chemicals can cause health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and allergy symptoms to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and even cancer. Many candles have cored wicks made from cotton that is wrapped around a metal support.
The design helps keep the wick from falling over into the wax. This is especially useful for scented candles, because the fragrance oils soften the wax and allow non-cored wicks to go limp. In the past, lead was commonly used in cored candlewicks — especially in candles imported from overseas. However, after determining that these wicks could present a lead poisoning hazard to young children, the U. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the manufacture and sale of all candles with lead-core wicks in Now, zinc and tin are generally used instead.
However, all metal-core wicks release trace amounts of heavy metals into the air when they are burned. And wicks with zinc and tin cores can still release small amounts of lead particles.
There are safer ways to scent the air. Here are some suggestions:. By keeping your home clean, the chances of irritation are lower when you have COPD. Here are the measures to follow to minimize the amount of…. Rose quartz is known as the stone of love.
What does the evidence say? Some say the base of all the chakras is the key to feeling stable, safe, and secure. Want to boost your immunity with natural treatments? TCM has you covered. Can this ancient theory help you find balance in the modern day? Post-British education, she went on a search for her roots in Ayurveda.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Are candles toxic? Most scented candles contain paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil. One study at South Carolina State University found that paraffin wax candles give off harmful fumes linked to lung cancer and asthma, although researchers said it would take years of regular use for it to be a significant health risk.
Paraffin candles also produce a fair bit of soot — the black stuff caused from flickering flames — and when the soot is airborne it can be inhaled. It also helps to create a stronger-smelling fragrance than natural waxes. Beeswax candles are another option. They also tend to burn for longer than both paraffin and soy candles.
0コメント