Scented Candles Pollute the Air We Breathe Most

While scented candles may appear charming, harmless — even romantic — a large number of public health and safety agencies are strongly warning against their use for two reasons. Scented candles actually release additional airborne toxins and soot, polluting the air you and your children breathe with combustion byproducts and particulate matter (soot). The use of candles also unavoidably increases the risk of fires and resulting deaths, injuries, and property damage. Finally, almost all “scented” candles use artificial perfumes and synthetic fragrances, as opposed to essential oils. But in any event, unlike a catalytic lamp, the scent oil used in candles (even if made from essential oils) will be burned or in any event significantly altered by a candle’s flame, burning at about 1,700° Fahrenheit.

Candles Pollute Your Air

People spend about 90% of their time indoors and breathe over 10,000 quarts of air per day. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air in the home are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems and are the most likely to have adverse impacts on people due to extended exposures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has specifically identified candles, and in particular scented candles, as a significant source of indoor air pollution.

Nearly all scented candles are made from paraffin wax, a byproduct of crude oil refining, and synthetic (artificial) fragrance oils, which are also based on petroleum products. The flame temperature of scented candles is approximately 1,700° Fahrenheit and results in ignition of the fragrance oils in the paraffin wax, along with the release of harmful combustion byproducts, including soot (particulate matter), carcinogens, neurotoxins, and reproductive toxins.

In addition to black soot (particulate matter) deposition, candles release a large number of toxic and poisonous combustion byproducts. This is so because candle wax is a byproduct of crude oil refining. The thick, heavy parts of crude oil are either made of tar or paraffin, depending on the source of the crude oil. The heavy, waxy fraction of paraffinic-based crude oils is refined to make candles. Many manufacturers of scented candles further refine the wax to make it soft so it will burn longer.

Because paraffin wax is derived from the thick, heavy parts of paraffinic crude oils, it should not be surprising to learn that burning of paraffin wax emits the same kinds of pollutants as the burning of other fossil fuels, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, and coal. Testing and air chamber analysis reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found the following compounds in a random group of over 30 candles tested, including Acetone, Benzene, Carbon, Tetrachloroethene, Styerene, and Lead.

Black Soot Deposition, also called "ghosting," "carbon tracking," "carbon tracing" and "dirty house syndrome," has become an increasing complaint of homeowners and apartment residents throughout the country.  Soot is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels, usually petroleum-based. Complete combustion would, in theory, produce practically no soot or carbon monoxide, and is recognized by a blue flame. This applies to all types of combustion processes including natural gas flames, wood fires and candle flames. While it is understood that soot can be generated by any combustion process, most flames that are used in homes are either vented or are carefully controlled, such as gas stoves with a notable blue flame. Through interviews with over 50 homeowners who have experienced Black Soot Deposition (BSD), it has become evident that a common source of soot is candles. Until recently, the amount of soot produced by candles had not been measured. Results from a recent experiment using a controlled chamber have revealed that certain candles, with predictable regularity, can produce up to 100 times more soot than low-soot-producing candles. In effect, burning one candle can be equivalent to burning 100 candles at once. It was also demonstrated that a candle placed in an air draft can increase its soot production by a factor of 50. The assumption by most consumers, that candles could not produce enough soot to cause the damage seen in their home, is unfounded. In fact, soot production from certain candles can be significant and may cause indoor levels of airborne soot to exceed concentrations allowed in outside air by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Federal Government.

While the soot is suspended in the air, occupants are at risk of inhalation exposure. Since the particles are less than 1 micron (µm) in diameter, they potentially can penetrate the deepest areas of the lung. While some studies have looked at the health risks associated with microscopic soot generated from diesel exhaust and factory emissions, none have considered the residential exposure due to candles. The greatest exposure to soot produced by candles is expected during candle burning, so increasing ventilation by opening windows would reduce occupant exposure.

Unattended Candles Cause Fires

In 2002, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates that 18,600 candle-related residential fires resulted in 130 deaths and 1,375 injuries, and untold millions of dollars in property damage.  The U.S. Fire Administration also reports that fires caused by candles “result in considerably more injuries and slightly more deaths and property loss than the average of all residential fires.”  Women are more likely than men and children to be injured or killed by candle-caused fires. Candle fires are caused by unattended candles, inadequate fire control, abandoned candles, and falling asleep. Consumers seem to forget that no matter how small the candle flame may appear, its temperature is around 1,700° Fahrenheit, far high enough to burn mostly any combustible material.

All content © Puraira, Inc. 2006. All Rights Reserved.  Citations available on our website - puraira.com.