Romantic, candle-lit dinners: An unrecognized source of indoor air pollution
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2009 -- Burning candles made from paraffin wax -- -- the most common kind used to infuse rooms with romantic ambiance, warmth, light, and fragrance ? -- is an unrecognized source of exposure to indoor air pollution, including the known human carcinogens, scientists reported here today. Levels can build up in closed rooms, and be reduced by ventilation, they indicated in a study presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
In the study, R. Massoudi Ph.D., and Amid Hamidi , Ph.D., said that that candles made from bee's wax or soy, although more expensive, apparently are healthier. They do not release potentially harmful amounts of indoor air pollutants while retaining all of the warmth, ambience and fragrance of paraffin candles (which are made from petroleum).
"An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you," Hamidi said. "But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an un-ventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems." Besides the more serious risks, he also suggested that some people who believe they have an indoor allergy or respiratory irritation may in fact actually be reacting to air pollutants from burning candles.
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The National Candle Association seriously questions the validity of this study, which contradicts the overwhelming body of scientific data on the topic. The researchers have provided no data for review and no specific measurements.
A rigorous international study in 2007, conducted in Germany at a laboratory with the equipment and expertise to measure candle emissions, analyzed candle made from paraffin, soy, palm, stearin and beeswax for more than 300 chemicals known or suspected of toxicity or health risks and found that all of the waxes burned cleanly and safely.
The combustion byproducts of every wax were virtually identical and of no significance, measuring FAR below the most restrictive of any applicable indoor-air standards in the world.
For more info, visit the NCA website at www.candles.org
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