Are Scented Candles Safe to Use?

Listen to this News

Highlights:

• When candles burn, they emit a variety of fumes and particles into the air
• Research indicates that they are safe to use as the amount we breathe in below the harmful levels
• If you are concerned about the potential negative health effects of burning paraffin wax, you can substitute beeswax, soy wax, or other plant-based waxes

You may have read some frightening headlines about the hidden risks of scented candles, such as those saying that some types (especially paraffin wax candles) are 'toxic' and can emit hazardous, cancer-causing compounds into the air.

However, while scented candles may emit vapors and particles that can be hazardous to breathe at high levels, research indicates that the dose you receive with normal use is considerably below what is considered dangerous to your health. And, according to specialists, there is no reason to believe that burning a candle on occasion is unsafe.

Do Candles Release Carcinogenic Compounds?

In one 2014 study, researchers burnt scented paraffin candles in rooms ranging in size from the equivalent of a tiny bathroom measuring 6 by 6 by 9 feet to a living room spanning 15 by 15 by 9 feet and then used sophisticated tools to assess what was released into the air and lingered there. While some potentially carcinogenic compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde, were created, the highest measured levels after four hours of continuous burning were less than half as high as the World Health Organization's recommended indoor air quality standards. (This was true even in the cramped restrooms.) The highest values were also within the range of what is considered usual chemical concentrations in indoor air.

Do Aroma Candles Pose a Health Risk?

As a result, the researchers concluded that under normal conditions of use, scented candles pose no recognized health concerns to the user.

‘When compared to the pollutants you inhale daily, the smoke from burning candles in a well-ventilated area is unlikely to have a substantial influence on your health. Sticking to candles created from natural sources is your best option if you want to reduce the quantity of particulate matter you breathe in.’

It is worth noting that, while the conclusion of this study is consistent with others, few studies have looked into the health impacts of burning scented candles in general. And the majority, including this one, were undertaken by candle industry researchers. However, independent researchers have stated that the findings are reliable.

We Inhale Mor Hazardous Compounds from Car Exhaust

Candles emit chemicals in 'very insignificant concentrations', according to Pamela Dalton, an odor perception and irritant researcher at Philadelphia's Monell Chemical Senses Center. People who walk down a busy city street will absorb more potentially hazardous compounds simply from car exhaust, she claims.

She stated that the amount of odor-causing particles created in general is on the order of a few parts per million or even parts per billion, which is equal to dumping a teaspoon of a chemical into an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Nikaeta Sadekar, a respiratory toxicologist with the nonprofit Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, agreed. "Exposure to chemicals emitted by scented candles is so low that they pose no significant risk to human health," she said. "Even the highest users of scented candles and other fragranced products are not putting themselves at any appreciable risk of harm."

Humans, according to Dr. Dalton, can detect scents in extremely low quantities, which may cause them to overestimate their potential risks. "We've been told for a very long time that we're at the low end of the animal kingdom in terms of being able to detect odors. And in fact, that's just simply not true," she said. Since our noses are so sensitive, we can often smell things in the air even when they are barely there. "We smell something, it smells strong, and we just automatically assume that the concentration of those odorant molecules in the air around us, and what we're breathing represents a high concentration. And very often that's not the case," she said.

Tips for Safe Use of Candles

Still, according to the National Candle Association, if individuals wish to reduce the quantity of soot emitted into the air, they should burn candles in well-ventilated settings away from winds and vents, maintain wicks cut to about 14 inches, and ensure that the pool of wax is clean.

Environment-Friendly Candles

Because paraffin wax is manufactured from petroleum wastes, try soy, stearin, or beeswax candles instead if you are worried about the environment. Soy candles have also been demonstrated to emit less soot than paraffin candles, although particular smells may be sensitive or irritating to some people, including those with asthma.

Symptoms to Watch Out for While Burning Scented Candles

If you notice irritation when burning scented candles, such as a runny nose or sneezing, you may want to stop or burn unscented candles instead, Dr. Dalton said.

Source: Medindia

Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2023, February 11). Are Scented Candles Safe to Use?. Medindia. Retrieved on Nov 18, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-scented-candles-safe-to-use-210445-1.htm.

• MLA

  Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Are Scented Candles Safe to Use?". Medindia. Nov 18, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-scented-candles-safe-to-use-210445-1.htm>.

• Chicago

  Dr. Trupti Shirole. "Are Scented Candles Safe to Use?". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-scented-candles-safe-to-use-210445-1.htm. (accessed Nov 18, 2024).

• Harvard

  Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2023. Are Scented Candles Safe to Use?. Medindia, viewed Nov 18, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/lifestyleandwellness/are-scented-candles-safe-to-use-210445-1.htm.