Health and Happiness Club

This Thanksgiving I was visiting my family down in Houston, Texas and I went over to my younger brother's new apartment. It was a great space, and I'm so proud of him for keeping it up so well. As I lingered in his kitchen I kept smelling something strange. Finally I asked him what that strong smell was and he pointed out a plug-in air freshener.

As his eco-friendly older sister I knew what needed to be done. I would help him have a healthier home AND have a Christmas present for him under the tree all in one! Before I tell you about my favorite candles, let me tell you about air fresheners and paraffin candles courtesy of MarthaStewart.com...

We all want our homes to smell good. But it might be wise to forgo commercial air fresheners; the National Resources Defense Council found that 12 of 14 air fresheners it tested, including those labeled "pure" and "natural," contained phthalates. In high doses, phthalates -- used to spread fragrance through the air -- are thought to cause hormonal abnormalities, reproductive problems, and birth defects. In addition, air fresheners often emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, which the EPA has classified as a known human carcinogen. Scented candles, oils, and plug-ins can contain many of the same ingredients as air fresheners.

Here's some information regarding paraffin candles courtesy of Healthy & Natural Journal.

Q: When did paraffin candles first appear on the market?

About 120 years ago, candles began to be mass-produced for commercial use. This parallels the emergence of the petroleum refinery industry. Paraffin is the byproduct or leftover residue of refined petroleum. Because paraffin is produced in such huge quantities (The United States produces about 10 billion pounds each year), it became the logical choice for the candle and food packaging industries.

Q: What makes paraffin candles hazardous to our health?

David Krause, an air quality engineer and former employee of the Florida Department of Health, says that the soot given off from the burning of paraffin candles is the same as that given off by burning diesel fuel. Some of the air contaminants in paraffin fumes include toluene, benzene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and naphthalene--substances found in paint, lacquer and varnish removers.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that benzene and toluene are probable human carcinogens.

The state of California, under its Proposition 65 Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, has identified at least seven major toxins in paraffin wax including the carcinogen benzene.

Q: Are the candle wicks also toxic?

About 30 percent of the candles on the market have lead core wicks. Lead and zinc are metals commonly used in the core of the wicks. The metal makes the wicks stand up straight making candle manufacturing easier.

The University of Michigan recently conducted a study which showed that one-third of the candles tested from the United States and overseas released more lead into the air than is recommended as safe by the EPA. The study also showed the amounts of lead in the air increased the longer the candles burned.

Q: Didn't the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) know about the wicks as early as the 1970s?

Yes. In the early 1970s, the notice was made regarding the lead wicks and the candle industry said they would voluntarily stop using lead or other metals in the wicks. However, 26 years later the University of Michigan took random samplings and found about 30 percent of the candles tested still used the lead wicks.

Q: How do the fumes from burning paraffin affect us?

At this point medical information is inadequate. There is definitely a need for more thorough medical studies to determine exactly the short-term and long-term effects of inhaling paraffin fumes. The state of California, with its Proposition 65, seems to be where a lot of investigation is taking place.

I have a strict "beeswax candles only" policy in my home. I have a passion for bees, as their populations have been suffering lately, and they are the only kind of candles that actually improve air quality! Isn't it wonderful when you find that doing something eco-friendly helps multiple causes? When I found out how terrible paraffin candles were, I threw all of mine away, which wasn't that sad because they were so darn cheap to begin with.

I recommend only buying candles in health food stores and even then, READ THE LABELS. This is what I will be doing when I buy my brother his Christmas presents! Here is a photo of the candles I love to buy, and these candles are beautifully scented with essencial oils (I like Lavender-Geranium.)...you can buy them online at www.bigdipperwaxworks.com.