There's a commonly used & hugely popular consumer product that  presents some serious concerns regarding regarding toxic exposures to children.  Scented and aromatic candles have experienced unprecidented sales increase in the last few years.  Because of the increasing use of scented candles in the home the effects of their emissions have drawn the attention and even scrutiny of Indoor Air Experts,  the CPSC, Environmental Health Professionals and Toxicologists.

Candles Can Expose Children to Lead

Some candle makers are still using lead cores in their wicks which can resultin lead (pm) particles being emitted into the air of a home...the air that homeowners & their children breathe.   This is a particularly worrisome exposure to  infants, small children & their mothers (especially pregnant women) since they are the ones who spend a majority of time inside the home.  One home that had burned a number of these lead wire cored wick candles  (from the Gap & Banana Republic) had dust wipe test results return with measurements as high as 40 mg. of lead per sq. ft. in some areas.

What other toxic ingredients, besides lead, are in some candles?

In addition to lead, candles can also cause low dose, long term exposures to the following:

 

 

Acetone  Benzene  2- Butanone  Carbon Disulfide  Carbon Tetrachloride  Cresol  Chlorobenzene

Carbon Monoxide  Cyclopentene  Ethylbenzene  Lead  Mercury Phenol  Styrene

Tetrachloroethene  Toluene  1,1,1-Trichloroethane  Trichloroethene  Trichlorofluoromethane  Xylene

These compounds were detected & measured in air chamber tests of candles.  Average particle size is .06 microns.   And the last round of testing indicated the release of DIETHYL PHTHALATE as well. In addition, it was discovered that the candles off-gas Benzene without even being lit.

The scented & aromatic candle market has experienced unprecidented growth & have become increasingly popular with consumers.  The "Cocooning" or "Nesting" phenomenon has certainly contributed to this trend. Apparently, the recent popularity of scented & aromatic candles has motivated many companies to introduce candles into their product line (scented candle sales have doubled in the last 2 years) unfortunately without the expertise & knowledge needed to produce a safe & clean burning candle.  Candle manufacturers are not compelled to list or disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as  ingredients in their products.  Fragrance intensity has been proven to have an enormous influence at point-of-sale for consumers, as a result candle manufacturers are dumping increasing amounts of fragranced oils into their wax mixtures - some of these oils are not even suitable for combustion. Candle
manufacturers are not compelled to list or disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as ingredients in their products and even more astounding - some will claim they don't know what compounds are in their product.   A spokeswoman for the Federal Trade Commission said there are no restrictions or regulations governing the makers of aromatic candles.

Candle Manufacturers are accountable to no one, even consumers.

The reason the ingredients aren't listed is because they don't have to... Candle manufacturers & retailers are not compelled to list or disclose hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic compounds used as ingredients in their products, much less provide a comprehensive ingredient list at all.  According to the FTC & the CPSC there are absolutely no regulations or standards pertaining to this consumer product & candle makers are accountable to no one, including the consumer. 

In fact, the Gap was approached about obtaining an ingredient list for their "Aromatic Candles" resulting in a variety of replies from "I'll get back to you with the ingredient list..." to "We don't know." A report has been filed with the CPSC regarding Gap & Banana Republic aromatic candles (CPSC Product Report # H9790225A). Read what Gap, Inc. higher ups said to consumer advocate David Dewey when he tried to obtain an ingredient list:

Consumer Alerts - D.L.Dewey 
http://www.dldewey.com/chealthf.htm  

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The topic of candles and their emissions raises a number of concerns & issues, for example:

The effect of candle emissions on indoor air quality of homes, especially homes where infants & young children reside.  BSD or "Black Soot Deposition" in homes - this destroys the contents of a home and the ventilation or H/VAC system and quite likely presents significant health risks.  Toxic compounds emitted by candles. PM  (particulate matter) lead exposures to consumers, especially children.  Lack of regulation governing the exploding candle industry.  Candle Makers can basically put any compounds into this consumer product & not have to answer to anyone.  They don't even have to list the ingredients on the product...nor do they have to supply a list of ingredients when a consumer requests it....what other consumer product is allowed this total lack of accountability to consumers?  Candlemakers have exploited the trend of Aromatherapy by making ludicrous and false statements & claims about the effect of their products on health & well being.  Property damage can be substantial &  can even include replacement of the entire interior ventilation (H/VAC) system, coverage of this damage has been inconsistent within the homeowners insurance industry...even with in the same company.

With candle burning season in full swing it's crucial that consumers, especially parents of young children, become aware of possible toxic exposures to respirable particles from candle emissions. The particles in the emissions avg. .06 microns in size & whereas 40-50% of ingested toxins are absorbed 100% of respirable particles this small are absorbed.  These particles will eventually settle on all surfaces in a home including the carpeting.  Parents with babies & toddlers need to have access this information to be aware that their child's moving around on carpeting remobilizes the settled particles & with their faces so close to the source they are bound to inhale some of these
particles. 

A Toxicologist  convinced me that candle emissions may indeed pose a significantly higher risk of health effects to children not only from lead, but VOCs, solvents and PAHs.  He explained that childrens'  respiration rate is faster than most adults, children are more active & therefore increase respiration even more, a child tends to breathe more thru the mouth than an adult and because of their smaller size & weight the ratio of toxins to body mass is higher.  He also pointed out that certain toxins, solvents and heavy metals are stored in  body fat, bones & organs,  and evidence of exposure may not manifest itself till many years later or when the body is stressed, such as puberty or periods of rapid growth, illness &  pregnancy. He went further to state that some of the compounds he found in candle emissions are actually capable of mutating or damaging DNA.  All of these combine to make children especially vulnerable to toxic exposures of any kind so any steps you can take to minimize exposures would be wise.

For people who decide to continue to burn candles, I urge them to be cautious & educate themselves about what candles are the safest to burn with regard to emissions.  Ron Bailey wrote an excellent article that defines the characteristics a consumer can look for when purchasing candles to ensure the least amount of soot & other emissions.  Here's a link to that article:

Black Soot Deposition by Ron Bailey 

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