Can a candle really be toxic?
The smell of a freshly blown out candle is familiar to many, signaling the end of a cozy night curled up on the couch. It’s very disappointing then to learn that there are options even in the innocuous world of candles that are toxic. Paraffin candles, widely sold by large brand names with tasty sounding scents like Passion Fruit Martini and Gingerbread Maple, sound a lot less appetizing once the words benzene, toluene, and lead are added to the list of attributes.
Since paraffin is derived from petroleum, it makes sense to find it emitting benzene. Benzene is a known human carcinogen, a.k.a a cancer causing agent, classified as such by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In nature this colorless flammable liquid is formed by volcanoes and forest fires, but the majority of our exposure to benzene comes from car exhaust fumes and cigarette smoke. The American Cancer Society lists the short-term high level dose effects of benzene as “drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, tremors, confusion, and/or unconsciousness”, due to its effects on the nervous system, which is NOT a cute end to an evening. Research on humans and animals has shown the long term effects of continued benzene exposure to link to a higher rate of leukemia and other blood-related cancers.
Toluene is also a known human carcinogen, mainly used in gasoline, paints and paint thinners. According to the EPA the health effects of exposure to high levels of toluene include the depression of the central nervous system. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that “exposure to high concentrations may lead to tiredness and slow reaction, difficulty sleeping, numbness in the hands or feet, or female reproductive system damage and pregnancy loss.” Certainly the occasional candle burning isn’t going to cause this level of damage, but let’s be real, no one wants to feel like there’s a chance their fancy designer candle might make them sick.
When candles are burned, trace amounts of formaldehyde (another human carcinogen), acetaldehyde (yet another human carcinogen), in addition to benzene, toluene, and acrolein (which itself causes inflammation and irritation to skin and the respiratory tract, according to the CDC) are released. Low-quality candles also introduce the potential threat of lead wicks. Although the U.S candle manufacturing industry banned lead wicks in 1974, it is still possible to find them on the market today. While lead can affect every organ in the body, especially in children, some main risks include cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, and even incidence of hypertension, decreased kidney function, and reproductive problems, warns the EPA.
It’s unlikely anyone would want the air quality in their home to be comparable to inhaling cigarette fumes, but due to the number of harmful chemicals emitted by candle smoke, the Chief Physician and Docent of Environmental Health at Finland’s Department of Health and Wellness, Raimo O Salonen, confirms that large quantities of candle smoke in an enclosed space are indeed comparable to passive smoking. The harmful particle exposure and soot build up caused by continued candle burning also increases the risk of bacterial infections, such as the flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia, as these particles can easily infiltrate the lungs. The EPA has also come to this finding through a study on Candles and Incense as Potential Sources of Indoor Air Pollution, which even emphasizes the soot levels from scented candles are higher than those of unscented candles.
Thankfully, there’s a safer alternative in soy candles, which are vegetable based and burn noticeably cleaner, leaving far less black soot in their containers. However, the information on the reliability of candles marked as ‘100% soy’ is mixed as it seems that even then these candles may contain paraffin. Certainly ‘soy-blend’ is simply a marketing term to make the product sound more attractive, but this still means they likely contains paraffin. Beeswax candles, on the other hand, are recommended by The Lung Institute for sufferers of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as they release negative ions into the air, which purify the air. This article doesn't get into the separate issue of the sustainability of beeswax candles, as we’re only talking toxic right now.
So, with the threat of breathing in a veritable laundry list of toxic chemicals, plus the very real possibility of harmful soot building up on your walls, ceiling, carpet, and lungs, it would appear that paraffin candles win the Best In Show trophy at the Least Desirable Candle awards. 100% soy candles are certainly a far better alternative when it comes to toxicity, with beeswax candles taking the place of the cleanest candles.
You can take this info on your next Target run and perhaps limit the candle sniffing to just the soy candles.