For those who burn paraffin candles, you would possibly as properly be inhaling diesel fumes. The tremendous particulate matter collected from candle emissions was just like that of diesel engine exhaust in particle dimension, morphology, elemental carbon content, and absorbed chemical constituents says David Krause. Krause is an air high quality engineer and former employee of the Florida Department of Well being. He additionally adds, These similarities level to a similar potential for antagonistic health effects.

Supporting the Oil Industry

Paraffin is the final residue left from refining crude oil. It has change into the leading wax for use in cosmetics, meals and candle manufacturing because its low cost and readily available. And the oil industries make a healthy revenue from its use.

Paraffin wax is a non-renewable resource. As soon as all of the crude oil is gone, we will not have any extra. Paraffin burns extra rapidly and hotter than most waxes creating extra concern for hearth hazards than crucial. Because it’s oil-primarily based, paraffin wax spills do not cleanup simply.

Well being Issues

The main considerations cropping up from analysis deal with high levels of indoor pollutants, significantly soot and lead. That is a serious drawback contemplating that air borne soot can penetrate the deepest areas of the lungs and the lower respiratory tract.

Paraffin candle burners could also be exposing themselves to inflammatory brokers, carcinogens and teratogens. These could result in increased risk of cancer, neurological and behavioural deficits and acute aggravation of present respiratory diseases similar to asthma.

Emissions in the house are estimated to stick round for as much as 10 hours after extinguishing a candle.

Soot

Soot from paraffin candles can cover your walls and has resulted in millions of dollars worth of insurance coverage claims in North America. The results from checks with scented paraffin candles seem to be even more dismal.
Paraffin candles cannot be scented with natural important oils because the petrochemical wealthy wax will break them down. This has lead the candle industry to create petroleum-based mostly fragrances which can be extra suitable. When these fragrances are added to the mix, much more soot and chemicals are released.

Soot, in high levels, will be seen rising from the offending candle. However, even a visually clean burning candle could still emit vital portions of lead.

Lead

In 1974, the US candle manufacturing trade voluntarily ceased the production of candles with lead wicks. Nonetheless, with the lack of an official ban, they are nonetheless discovered on store shelves. On average, 30% of candles include lead. Burning lead wick candles can result in airborne concentrations of lead above EPA advisable thresholds.

Metal core wicks are used to decrease production time – they stand up on their own while the candle is poured. Zinc wicks are a greater alternative, however still emit undesirable chemicals. Even burning candles in metallic containers can enhance the amount of airborne pollutants.

Extra Chemicals

The main focus of this article is on the hazards of soot and lead. I believed I should include this list of chemicals normally found in paraffin candles:

Acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde exceeding EPA safety thresholds, dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, didecyl phthalate, toluene, styrene, benzene, styrene, toluene, ethyl benzene, naphthalene, benzaldehyde, benzene,ethanol, and a couple of-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) and acetone.

With the craze for gel candles you may add in mineral oil, terpene-kind chemicals, modified hydrocarbons & viscosity increasing chemicals.

Alternate options – A Breath of Contemporary Air

All will not be misplaced. The growing popularity of vegetable wax candles presents us with a wholesome and environmentally pleasant different. Look for candles made from soy wax [http://www.valhallaessences.com/Products/soy_candles.html], palm wax and so forth. Insist on a wick made from cotton or different pure source fibres.

Most essential – by no means allow them to fool you with claims of a natural candle scented with butter pecan. Butter pecan and a large number of different creative non-plant scents are chemicals, as are the dearer scents from nature resembling rose. Rose essence (a chemical fragrance) is about $7/oz, rose essential oil (the real thing) is about $200/oz. So, your not more likely to get a rose candle scented with the actual factor for below $30 (and thats a small one). When in doubt – ask.