Ben Carter
Candles are a great way to create a relaxing and intimate environment in your home. However, they may also be a health hazard. Burning candles can release toxins and soot into the air, contaminating vents and ducts and discolouring walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. These toxins can include benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein. In addition, candles can decrease ambient humidity, drying out the air in your home. This can have adverse effects on your health, such as respiratory irritation, and can also damage wooden furniture and drywall. To improve air quality and protect your health and home, solutions such as humidifiers, air purifiers, and HEPA filters can be employed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do candles dry out the air in your home? | Burning candles can decrease ambient humidity and cause the air in your home to become dry. |
| Candles and indoor air quality | Candles can affect indoor air quality by releasing toxins, pollutants, and soot into the air. Paraffin, scented, and aromatic candles are the worst offenders. |
| Health risks | Lighting candles frequently in an unventilated space can aggravate asthma and cause allergy-like symptoms, respiratory irritation, nausea, and headaches. |
| Alternatives | Beeswax and soy candles are cleaner-burning alternatives to paraffin candles. Opening windows and using humidifiers, air purifiers, and HEPA filters can also help improve indoor air quality. |
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What You'll Learn
Burning candles release toxins and carcinogens
There is an ongoing debate about whether burning candles is harmful to health. Some sources claim that candles release potentially harmful toxins and carcinogens, while others argue that candles do not contain enough toxins to pose a significant health threat.
Burning candles, especially scented and paraffin candles, release toxins and carcinogens into the air. Paraffin is a petroleum by-product, and burning it releases dangerous chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates. VOCs are carbon compounds that easily turn into gases at room temperature. Scented candles can release large quantities of formaldehyde, CO2, and VOCs, which are higher than background levels, indicating that the candles are a source of indoor pollution.
The fragrances in scented candles can contain up to 90% chemicals, including phthalates (hormone-disrupting chemicals), toluene, benzyl acetate, limonene acetone, and phenol. Toluene is commonly used in paint thinners and adhesives, and exposure without proper ventilation can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, as well as cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, and anxiety. Benzene is another hydrocarbon released by burning candles, and it is a known carcinogen, increasing the risk of leukemia and other blood cancers.
Other toxins released by burning candles include acetaldehyde, acrolein, soot, naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene. These toxins can contaminate ventilation systems and discolour walls, ceilings, and home contents.
To minimize exposure to these toxins and carcinogens, it is recommended to choose candles made from natural materials such as beeswax or soy wax, which burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Beeswax candles release negative ions that bind with toxins and help remove them from the air. Soy candles produce less soot and toxic chemicals than paraffin candles. Additionally, burning candles in a well-ventilated area can reduce the potential health risks associated with indoor air pollution.
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Paraffin and scented candles are the worst offenders
Scented candles, which are also often made with paraffin, release additional toxins and soot into the air due to the fragrances used. Up to 90% of fragrances are made from chemicals, including phthalates (hormone-disrupting chemicals), toluene, benzyl acetate, limonene acetone, and phenol. These fragrances can be dangerous and pose human and environmental concerns, acting as reproductive and developmental toxins and known carcinogens.
The emissions from paraffin and scented candles can contaminate the ventilation systems in homes, leading to discolored walls, ceilings, and home contents. Burning these candles frequently in unventilated spaces can aggravate asthma, cause allergy-like symptoms, and lead to respiratory irritation, nausea, and headaches.
To improve air quality and counteract the drying effects of these candles, the use of humidifiers, air purifiers, and HEPA filters is recommended. Seeking out candles made from natural materials, such as beeswax or non-GMO soy, with natural wicks and fragrance-free options, can also help reduce the release of harmful chemicals into the air.
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Candles can contaminate ventilation systems
Burning candles can certainly dry out the air in your home. Candles release water vapour, which can increase humidity in a small, enclosed area. However, candles also produce smoke and soot, which can contaminate ventilation systems.
Paraffin candles, in particular, are a major source of indoor air pollution. When burned, they release carcinogenic toxins such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, as well as soot. These emissions contain many of the same toxins produced by burning diesel fuel. Scented candles are also a concern, as fragrances often contain harmful chemicals, including phthalates, which are reproductive and developmental toxins, and toluene, which is also a known carcinogen.
The pollution from paraffin and scented candles can contaminate the ductwork of ventilation systems in homes. This can lead to discolouration of walls, ceilings, and home contents. Additionally, burning candles, especially in unventilated spaces, can aggravate asthma and cause allergy-like symptoms.
To improve indoor air quality, it is recommended to opt for candles made from natural materials like beeswax or non-GMO soy, with natural wicks. Fragrance-free candles or those scented with essential oils are also preferable. Using a humidifier can also help to improve air quality by putting moisture back into the air, making it easier to breathe and reducing issues like dry skin.
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Warmer air can contain more water vapour
Candles are a great way to create a relaxing and intimate environment in your home. However, they may also affect the air quality in your home. The use of candles can lead to indoor air pollution, which can have adverse effects on your health and home. An open flame can decrease ambient humidity, drying out the air in your home. Warmer air can contain more water vapour, and this has implications for the humidity of a room.
When the temperature of a room increases, the average speed of water molecules also increases. This means that more water molecules will evaporate, and the water level in the glass will decrease. This is because the molecules are moving fast enough to escape the water and turn into vapour. As the temperature rises, more molecules will evaporate until a balance is reached between evaporation and condensation.
Conversely, if the room is cooled, the average speed of the water molecules will decrease. This results in more water molecules in the air moving slowly enough to stay in the water when they hit it, causing condensation. Fewer molecules in the water will be moving fast enough to evaporate, so the water level in the glass will increase.
The speed of molecules is influenced by temperature, and this affects the rate of evaporation and condensation. Warmer air has faster-moving molecules, allowing for more water vapour. This is why warmer air can feel humid, as it contains more water vapour.
To improve the air quality in your home, you can use humidifiers, air purifiers, or HEPA filters. These devices can help to add moisture to the air, making it easier to breathe and reducing issues like dry skin.
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Beeswax and soy candles are healthier alternatives
While candles are great for creating a cosy atmosphere, they can also be a source of indoor air pollution. Common wax materials and scented additives can emit air pollutants when burned, with paraffin wax being the most common culprit. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum, which releases carcinogenic toxins such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, as well as soot, into the air. These emissions can contaminate ventilation systems and discolour walls and ceilings. Scented candles can be even worse, releasing decent quantities of soot.
So, what are the alternatives? Beeswax and soy candles are healthier options. Beeswax is a naturally occurring, non-toxic alternative to conventional candle ingredients. It burns slowly and evenly, producing a clean, smoke-free, and soot-free flame with no inorganic byproducts or chemicals. Beeswax candles also release a slight honey fragrance and have a bright golden light. They can even help cleanse indoor air of odours and allergens by releasing negative ions that bind with toxins and remove them from the air. However, it is important to note that there is limited research on the air-purifying effects of beeswax candles, and some studies suggest that all types of candles, including beeswax, emit low levels of pollutants. Additionally, beeswax candles tend to be more expensive than other options.
Soy candles are another clean-burning alternative to paraffin. Soy burns just as cleanly as beeswax, producing less soot and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Soy candles also tend to last longer than paraffin candles due to their lower burning temperature. However, it is important to look for soy candles made with pesticide-free, non-genetically modified soy plants, as 91% of soy grown in the US is genetically modified.
To minimize the negative impact of candles on your indoor air quality, choose unscented beeswax or soy candles with cotton or paper wicks, and remember to trim the wicks to a quarter of an inch or less to minimize smoke and soot. Additionally, ensure your space is well-ventilated, and consider using air purifiers or humidifiers to improve the air quality in your home.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning candles can decrease ambient humidity and release toxins, which can lead to dry air in your home.
Beeswax candles and candles made from non-GMO soy are cleaner alternatives to paraffin candles.
Burning candles can aggravate asthma, cause allergy-like symptoms, and lead to respiratory irritation, nausea, and headaches.
To improve air quality, use a humidifier, air purifier, or HEPA filter. Open windows daily to purge the house of pollutants, especially in the morning for about 10-15 minutes.
The presence of mould, condensation, and/or a gathering of dust can indicate poor air quality in your home.
