Keep Your Family Safe this December with Healthier Hanukkah Candles

Candles--one of the most-overlooked causes of poor indoor air quality, according to Anca Novacovici, President of Eco-Coach, Inc., a sustainability consulting company--produce health-harming pollution consisting of more than just soot.

Conventional candles made of paraffin wax, i.e. petroleum paraffin, emit toluene, benzene, formaldehyde and soot (carcinogens, neurotoxins, and reproductive toxins--see toxin glossary below) when burned, Novacovici said.

Furthermore, Novacovici said, many candles, more likely those made outside the United States though including some made within the U.S., have metal core wicks made of pure lead or lead-containing alloys such as commercial-grade zinc (the same alloy recommended as a lead wick replacement by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission).

Petroleum paraffin candles tend to produce more black soot, a respiratory irritant containing suspected carcinogens, than soy or beeswax candles.

Each of these substances are released into the air when candles including them are burned.

Thankfully, the market is full of safer Hanukkah candles including beeswax and vegetable wax (including soy) candles. Cotton wicks with pure olive oil, especially in organic form, burn much more safely, too.

Sources:
Healthy Child Tip 62: Not All Candles Are Created Equal
Quick Tips: Enjoy Healthy Holidays

TOLUENE
(aka methylbenzene)
Unclassifiable Carcinogen
Neurotoxin = Can harm brain and central nervous system
Development Toxicant = Can interfere with normal development of a fetus or child
Inhalation may depress the central nervous system, causing lightheadedness, headaches, euphoria, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, memory loss, and, at higher concentrations, unconsciousness or death
Eye, skin, and respiratory irritation
Kidney and liver damage
Hearing loss
Irregular heartbeat
Possible damage to fetal mental development including impaired mental functions, attention deficits, retarded growth, fetal solvent syndrome (with symptoms resembling fetal alcohol syndrome),
Possible increase in spontaneous abortion and miscarriage in women and wives of men occupationally exposed
Sore throats, fatigue, sleep problems, loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, dizziness, headaches. Impairment in reactions time, spread of perception, loss of hearing, memory and concentration problems and alteration in learned behaviors
Permanent brain damage including impaired speech, vision and hearing and loss of muscle control, memory, and balance.

BENZENE
Very Highly Toxic if swallowed or inhaled
Cancerous, particularly leukemia and other cancers of the blood and blood-producing organs, such as multiple myeloma
Decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia, bone marrow damage, excessive bleeding, immune system depression, dry and scaly skin.
Effects on the central nervous system ranging from drowsiness, dizziness, sleepiness, rapid heart rate and headache to loss of consciousness
Chromosomal damage
Linked to low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage in babies

FORMALDEHYDE
Very Highly Toxic if swallowed or inhaled, Highly Toxic if absorbed through skin
Allergen
Asthma Trigger
Allergy-like reactions
Flu-like symptoms
Inhaling formaldehyde fumes can cause respiratory problems and asthma-like symptoms
Linked to a rare form of nasopharyngeal cancer and may also be linked to cancer of the nose and throat in humans

Sources:
Toluene
Benzene
Formaldehyde