My sister has lately been telling me something I don’t want to hear, that candles are actually toxic. Now I am a person who loves her candles, the smell, the ambiance, mmm! I just did not want to believe this, so I took research into my own hands, here’s the results:
Candle wicks may have lead in them. The lead in wicks used to be more existent not too long ago, fewer and fewer manufacturers aren’t using them in their wicks any longer. Why you may ask? Serious diseases and lawsuits. Yeah, turns out lead emitted by a candle is a serious health hazard. Yeah….you don’t say.Here are some things to look out for:
- Watch out for shiny metal wire inside the wicks of candles. Opt for pure paper or cotton instead.
- Keep wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch for more complete combustion, and keep candles out of drafts. Wind blows more toxins into the air and causes inefficient burning.
- Watch out for slow-burning candles with additives. (These candles often feel greasy to the touch.) Instead, look for pure beeswax candles, which emit less pollution.
- For aromatherapy, put a few drops of scented oil in a dffuser — a tray made to fit on a lightbulb. Or you can put the drops into some boiling water.
- Don’t use candles in jars when the candle leaves a soot ring on the jar’s lip. The soot may be an indication of lead dust.
But lead wicks aren’t the only thing you should be concerned about. “Candles are fast becoming one of the most common unrecognized causes of poor indoor air quality,” says Diane Walsh Astry, executive director of the Health House Project, an American Lung Association education project in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sigh. Here’s why:
- Paraffin is the major ingredient in most conventional candles and is a sludge waste product from the petroleum industry. It releases carcinogenic chemicals when burned. The soot/fumes are similar to that released from a diesel engine and can be as dangerous as second-hand cigarette smoke. This can contribute to serious respiratory issues like asthma
- Two particularly toxic chemicals, benzene and toluene, are found in the sooty residue from burning candles. Benzene is cancer-causing and toluene affects the central nervous system
- Other toxic chemicals that may be present in the paraffin mixture and released through burning include: Acetone, Trichlorofluoromethane, Carbon Disulfide, 2-Butanone, Trichloroethane, Trichloroethene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Tetrachloroethene, Chlorobenzene, Ethylbenzene, Styrene, Xylene, Phenol, Cresol, Cyclopentene. Some of the toxins are found in other products such as paint, laquer and varnish removers– that’s disgusting.
Here are some candle you should NOT buy:
Avoid
- Dollar store or super-cheap candles
- Imported candles (stick with ones that are made in North America)
- Any candle that appears to have a metal-core wick (learn how to spot them)
- Scented candles (unless they are naturally scented via essential oils)
- Gel candles
- Cheap “aromatherapy” candles, from brands like Febreeze and Glade. There is actually nothing truly therapeutic about the scents in these candles and much that is harmful
The Best:
- Beeswax – A natural wax made from bees that has a light scent of honey
- Soy- These are clean-burning and long-lasting!
- Look for natural scents if these are scented
As sad and frustrated about this as I am? Yeah, I’m looking at the burning candle on my table right now with loathing and a deep sadness, goodbye candle, its been great. This calls for a DIY….
Jade & Jing 