Are Your Candles Making You Sick?

Yahoo! News:

(HealthDay News) -- Paraffin wax candles, used mainly for romantic ambiance, fragrance and light, may also contribute to air pollution inside your home.

The candles, which are made from petroleum, are a source of known human carcinogens and indoor pollution, researchers said in a study to be presented Wednesday at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Washington, D.C.

In the study, R. Massoudi and Amid Hamidi found that candles made from beeswax or soy, although more expensive, apparently are safer because they do not release potentially harmful pollutants.

Read the whole story: Yahoo! News

Comments

[alwaysthere]

08:57 PM on 08/23/2009

when i was a young man
there were always the candle lady's
god.. i loved the candle lady's

[Candles-Kevin]

03:23 PM on 08/21/2009

A great way to avoid the hazards of petroleum candles is to burn SOY CANDLES. A site called ScentsandS­prays.com is running a buy 1 get 1 half off deal on those right now. I love them.

[SonofLiberty1]

11:43 AM on 08/21/2009

I use candles sparingly. During power outages, at dinner...T­hanksgivin­g & Christmas.

HAVING ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA, WE NEVER USE "SCENTED CANDLES".

[zizyphus]

11:40 AM on 08/21/2009

Even worse are all the synthetic fragances they put in the candles, as well as perfumes, cleaning products, etc.

[hulagirrrl]

06:01 PM on 08/21/2009

Not just worse, poisonous and dangerous especially for children. Including the fire retardants in carpets, beds, and chemicals in paint, chemicals in furniture, houses should be aired out every day and plants are a must to clean the air.

[gotborked]

05:32 PM on 08/20/2009

Probably have a greater chance of catching on fire than being harmed by candle pollutants­.

[hulagirrrl]

06:02 PM on 08/21/2009

No, some candles contain lead, and that is never good.

[BlackYowe]

01:46 PM on 08/20/2009

YOu bet they are. The only ones I burn now are 100% beeswax with leadfree wicks made of only cotton.