A lit candle creates a nice atmosphere and gives a pleasant scent to the environment, but can there be health risks? Not all candles are the same, so we should be careful.
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A lit candle creates a nice atmosphere and gives a pleasant scent to the environment, but can there be health risks? Not all Candles they are the same, so we should be careful.
Let's think about candles produced with synthetic fragrances and the risks they can pose to allergic people. The problem, however, does not only concern the use of synthetic fragrances that can be annoying for some people, as in the case of incense sticks or room fresheners.
According to Andrew Sledd, a pediatrician who specializes in environmental toxicology who lives in Missouri, some scented candles, when left on for an hour, can cause the same negative effects as cigarette smoke.
In his opinion the soot of candles can represent a threat to our respiratory system and may contain particles of zinc, lead and tin, since candles do not have filters that can remove the microparticles. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of soot produced can vary from candle to candle.
L’Environmental Protection Agency e l’University of South Florida they turned their attention above all to scented candles. When lit, some can release phthalates, lead, toulene and benzene. The EPA in this regard has published an interesting report on candles and incense as potentials sources of pollution of the internal environments. You can read and download the document here.
A further study conducted in Germany showed that some candles can emit traces of chemicals such as acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein and naphthalene. The EPA pointed out that some wicks may have had lead in the past which was subsequently emitted into the air when the candle was lit. Some wicks may still contain lead therefore the EPA suggests looking for candles and wicks free of this substance.
Uno study conducted by South Carolina University found that the paraffin candles release unwanted chemicals into the air. According to chemistry professor and researcher Ruhullah Massoudi, anyone who lights a candle every day for years or at least frequently can expose themselves to health risks such as tumors, allergies and asthma. The reference is to paraffin candles. None plant-based candle tested in the study produced toxic chemicals. THU you can instead consult a survey by Altroconsumo about the air fresheners we told you about some time ago.
So what can we do if we want to light a candle from time to time? Better to avoid paraffin candles and prefer natural candles produced with vegetable ingredients such as soy wax or with beeswax for those who are not vegan. Finally, we can choose artisan candles that do not contain synthetic fragrances but only natural essential oils. Finally, those who are good at DIY can purchase wax and wicks from health food stores to make their own candles.
Marta Albè
Read also:
HOW TO MAKE CANDLES FROM ORANGES IN A FEW MINUTES
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