Apparently burning lots of candles may not be that good for you. It seems that some candles may be poisoning you.
A study presented at the American Chemical Society meetings looked at the effects of burning candles. The common types of candles, nowadays, are paraffin, bees wax and soy.
The researchers found that paraffin candles, which are the major and cheapest type of candle, can be bad for you. Paraffin is made from petroleum. When paraffin burns it releases some harmful compounds into the air.
In an indoor environment where for much of the year there is not much exchange of the air, the levels of indoor pollutants can build up. If candles are burnt frequently, then the pollutants released from burning candles can build up.
The authors of the research mention burning candles in the bathroom, as an example of a closed room, where some people will burn candles frequently in a unventilated environment.
Though the authors did not mention this, there is also some concern about fragrance in candles and other products causing problems.
Scents can build up in the house from candles. These scents also contribute to indoor air pollution and can have significant health problems for some individuals. They can cause aggravation of asthma and other lung diseases and different types of allergic reactions. They can also make people dizzy, give them a headache or feel nauseous. (I fit into the last category some scents make me feel really queasy.) Some societies such as the Canadian Lung Society list scents s a source of indoor pollutants.
For some people, who burn paraffin candles frequently and have respiratory problems, stopping burning paraffin candles may help.
Beeswax and soy candles, which are much more expensive, do not seem to significantly contribute to indoor pollution. It is recommended to either burn paraffin candles infrequently, regularly air out the room/house, or switch to beeswax or soy candles.
[tags]candles, paraffin candles, beeswax, soy, indoor pollution, respiratory problems[/tags]
