Photo: Collected
There’s a reason candles play a role in religious traditions and mindfulness practices around the world. Fire is foundational to human life, and we respond to it accordingly. A 2014 study in Evolutionary Psychology found that even looking at a recording of a hearth or campfire can induce physical and mental relaxation.
It’s little wonder then that so many of us love burning candles — especially scented candles — in our homes.
But over the past several years, a number of articles have popped up suggesting that burning candles releases potentially dangerous hydrocarbons into the air.
It’s a scary thing to read, but don’t let it dampen your mood. At least not yet.
We spoke to pulmonologist Sobia Farooq, MD, about the dangers candles pose to your health. Spoiler alert: Burning candles can contribute to indoor air pollution, but given all the available research, she’s not concerned for people who choose to light them up (in a well-ventilated space, at least).
Can burning candles be bad for your health?
When it comes to candles, the question isn’t whether they contribute to air pollution. We know they do because they’re a combustion product. But what the medical and scientific community is split on is whether or not the emissions they generate, tiny as they are, can meaningfully impact your health.
What happens when you burn a candle?
When you burn a candle, you release hydrocarbons — chemical compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon — into the air. In particular, burning candles releases trace quantities of toluene and benzene.
We commonly use toluene in paint thinners and adhesives. Without proper ventilation, toluene exposure can irritate your eyes, nose, throat and skin. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and anxiety.
Benzene is a gas emitted by forest fires, volcanoes, and burning coal or oil. We use benzene primarily in industrial and pharmaceutical settings, but the vast majority (90%) of all benzene exposure occurs as a consequence of smoking. Benzene is carcinogenic, having been found to increase the risk of leukemia and other blood cancers.
Who’s at risk?
While you wouldn’t want to breathe in significant quantities of either toluene, benzene or any other hydrocarbons, the small amount released when you burn a candle is only cause for concern in certain situations.
According to Dr. Farooq, a small number of studies suggest an association between candle burning and bladder cancer. “All these volatile organic hydrocarbons accumulate in the blood,” she explains. “They eventually get excreted through the bladder, hence the link with bladder cancer.”
As a result, Dr. Farooq says people under surveillance for, living with, or in remission from bladder cancer might want to go easy on the candles. Likewise, she encourages people with chronic lung conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to be mindful of the levels of air pollution in their homes.
Frankly, though, the science isn’t strong enough to suggest we should stop buying and burning candles.
In fact, we engage in far higher-risk activities every day. According to Dr. Farooq, indoor cooking increases the particulate matter in the air and has been linked to respiratory illnesses. A scented candle simply isn’t dangerous by comparison.
“There is no imminent danger,” Dr. Farooq says. “You just have to be mindful about investing in high-quality candles and keeping them in well-ventilated areas.”
See more.
Source: Online/NAN
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