Your Christmas candles that smell like pomegranate, peppermint and pine may spark joy in your home, but they may also increase your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, according to a new study.
“Our research shows that some home fragrance products can be detrimental to indoor air quality,” Asit Kumar Mishra and Marie Coggins, Irish researchers, wrote in Conversation last week.
Here’s a look at the toxic gases and irritating particles released into the air when scented candles are burned – and how they can harm your health.
Volatile organic compounds
Lighting a candle can generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon-based substances that easily enter the air we breathe.
Not all VOCs are considered dangerous, but some can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and loss of coordination.
Prolonged exposure to VOCs – also found in paint, varnish and cleaning products – can lead to constant headaches, liver and kidney damage, increased risk of lung cancer and worsening symptoms asthma.
CNN reports that paraffin wax, a cheap derivative of petroleum and the most popular candle fuel, is often responsible for candle-related VOCs.
A particularly carcinogenic VOC is benzene, which has been linked to the development of leukemia with significant, long-term exposure. Formaldehyde, another VOC, has been deemed a “human carcinogen” because it has been shown to cause nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia in large quantities.
“In poorly ventilated rooms, we observed that the concentration of pollutants like formaldehyde reached levels that could cause upper respiratory irritation,” Mishra and Coggins wrote.
Many artificial fragrances used in candles also contain phthalates, which are semi-volatile organic compounds that do not evaporate easily.
“The main concern is that some scented candles contain synthetic fragrances and dyes, which can potentially release harmful chemicals when burned,” Dr. Kunal Sood, a pain management specialist in Maryland. “One example is phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors and have been linked to ADHD, asthma and even breast cancer.”
Toxic gases
VOCs aren’t the only potentially harmful gases associated with candles. Small amounts of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide can be emitted when candles are lit – and they can become particularly problematic in poorly ventilated spaces.
Carbon monoxide impairs the supply of oxygen to tissues. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and confusion. Heavy exposure to this colorless, odorless gas can seriously damage the heart and brain and even lead to death.
In turn, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide can irritate the nose and throat, causing coughing and difficulty breathing and worsening asthma and heart disease.
Particle pollution
Burning candles also release particles into the air, mainly in the form of soot which can irritate the lungs. Exposure to fine particle pollution has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Scented candles tend to produce more fine particles than unscented candles, Mishra and Coggins noted.
“When using scented candles, for example, maximum concentrations of fine particles could reach 15 times the limits prescribed by the World Health Organization,” they wrote. “These levels took time to return to normal levels in under-ventilated rooms. »
How to Burn Candles Safely
Mishra and Coggins identified three main ways to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals in scented candles.
- Use these products in large spaces, such as the living room.
- Be sure to open windows and check that interior vents are not blocked.
- Extinguish candles outdoors as most smoke is emitted when the candle is blown out.
