Most candles contain lead, plastics, parabens, synthetic dyes, and phthalates, all known toxins and carcinogens. Check the alternatives and our favorite pick.
We all love those fruity scents! But, what is really in those candles and how are they contaminating your environment and making you ill?
Most Candles are made with Paraffin.
Candle wax is just another name for paraffin. And, one of the most dangerous ways to make your indoor air unhealthy is by burning scented paraffin candles. Paraffin is a petroleum-based product that is toxic for humans.
An Array of Carcinogenic Harmful Toxins.
Burning paraffin-made candles is like burning petroleum in our own environment as they release alkanes and alkenes which are also used in car exhaust. These include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Benzene and ethylbenzene are carcinogens! Toluene can cause headaches, confusion, fatigue, and eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as damage, reproductive harm, and developmental toxicity. Xylene can lead to a wide variety of concerns, from headaches and dizziness to pulmonary edema, long-term negative effects to the nervous system, and more.
Phthalates and Artificial Fragrances.
Another danger is that the scent in candles is usually made from artificial fragrances. Artificial fragrances are made of chemicals and/or another petroleum-based product like Diethyl Phthalate, a known hormone disruptor. Diethyl Phthalate is a chemical found in 97 percent of Americans and linked to sperm damage in human epidemiological studies. Another culprit is Musk Ketone, which concentrates in human fat tissue and breast milk.
Extremely Dangerous for Pregnancy and Babies.
Phthalates and phthalate metabolites have been detected in most bodily fluids, including serum, urine, breast milk, and semen. Once in the bloodstream, phthalates are capable of transplacental transition, which can lead to dysfunction of fetal development and other toxic effects on the embryo.
Another culprit is styrene, another of the petrochemicals from benzene. It is used in personal care products, fragrances for all kinds of products including household products such as dish and laundry detergent. Perhaps it is also time to look at the ingredients of your dish and laundry products? You eat and wash your clothes in it. Styrene is classified as a human carcinogen.
Toxic Lead!
Have you seen that black tar that candles leave around their container? Yep, that’s lead. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 74% of the candles purchased in the US today contain lead in their wick. This lead poisons the air that goes into the lungs and bloodstream.
Toxic for the Earth and Ecosystems too!
In addition to human toxicity, an abundance of phthalates has been detected in various ecosystems, mainly aquatic environments. Phthalates have been detected in drinking water, soil samples, and air. Their persistence and bioaccumulation make phthalates high-risk pollutants with an unknown but likely negative, long-term impact on the environment and ecosystems.
The Alternatives
Let’s switch to a cleaner solution for ourselves and our planet. Here are some ways to stay away from these harmful toxins and still enjoy candles.
For Candles:
Use natural wax candles made with soy, coconut, and natural essential oils.
Also, choose those with natural cotton, wood, or hemp wicks that are free of fragrance and do NOT have a lead core. Also, steer clear of styrene by avoiding any products that contain “fragrance” in their ingredients, but don’t list the perfume’s individual components.
Our Favorite Pick
Naked Earth & Co. candles are plant-based, vegan, and non-toxic. They are handmade with soy wax and essential oils, a cotton wick and are free of lead, plastics, parabens, synthetic dyes, or phthalates. The glass jar container can be cleaned and then repurposed or reused as decor after burning the candle.
Naked Earth Candles are:
.: Plant-based and Vegan
.: Healthy and Healing
.: Free of Artificial Fragrances
.: Free of Lead
.: Free of Carcinogens and Other Toxic elements
.: Free of Phthalates
.: Free of Paraffin
.: Free of Indoor Toxicity
.: Ecological and Conscious
The Author
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