Who doesn’t love scented candles? Some come with fragrances such as pine forest, cotton clean, and washed towels. No wonder why so many people love them. After all, they are a great way to freshen up the room.
However, some scientists claim that there are some candles out there that can release a series of deadly chemicals into every room. Furthermore, some perfumes from these dangerous candles can even mutate when they come in contact with the air.
Therefore, people need to ventilate their rooms at all times. But, how is this even possible? What could be making the soothing scented candles so deadly?
Evidence
According to the professor of the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the famous University of York, Alastair Lewis, tests were necessary to prove this theory. As a result, the professor conducted various tests in six different houses for five days.
By measuring the levels of different ‘volatile organic chemicals’ in the air, he managed to find a dangerous substance. The chemical known as benzene was present. This is a chemical that comes from vehicle fumes and pollutes the air.
But, how can benzene be present inside a house? Well, as the professor claims, some pine perfumes and limonene in scented candles released the highest levels of this harmful chemical in the air. Since there are some cleaning products that also contain these perfumes, they affected the air the same way.
Even though many people consider the limonene as a safe perfume, studies say otherwise. This perfume creates a reaction with other natural gases and creates something completely different. Moreover, the professor continued his studies.
He found out that if the limonene is exposed to ozone every two molecules, it can result in one molecule of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a chemical that the heavy industry uses and is poisonous to humans. If a person receives a daily exposure to this chemical, it might cause cancer.
Furthermore, there are some air fresheners and scented candles that contain petroleum, which can also be harmful to the health.
Further Studies
According to researchers from the U.S., some candles can release harmful chemicals that might cause asthma attacks. These chemicals are benzene and toluene. However, occasional usage of paraffin candles will NOT affect you, says Dr. Amid Hamidi of South Carolina University.
The only candles that are dangerous are the ones that contain paraffin wax. This is the only wax that can be very dangerous for the health. Therefore, not all the candle waxes are dangerous. So, the best way to avoid these types of candles is to purchase candles that contain essential oils and natural perfumes.
However, most people avoid these candles since they are a bit expensive. As a result, the market contains far more synthetically produced fragrances that can be exceptionally harmful to the health.
3 Safe Alternatives
If you love scented candles, it is best to replace the ones that contain petroleum wax. Besides, with these alternatives, you can improve your overall health and keep the air fresh and clean.
1. Soy
Soy wax doesn’t contain any air pollutants. It contains hydrogenated soybean oil and is free of herbicides, pesticides, and GMO. As such, it can be immensely beneficial for the overall health.
2. Palm
Palm wax is another safer alternative that comes from the palm fruit. It has a marbled appearance and can burn for a very long time.
3. Beeswax
Beeswax candles are 100% organic. They don’t pollute the air and last for a long time. Also, they have a sweet smell and don’t drip at all.
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