Are paraffin candles harmful? Paraffin and wax candles: harm and benefits Harm of paraffin candles.

Today, candles are not used as often as they once were. In our lives, with their help, people create a romantic atmosphere, scent the air, or simply use them as a decorative element.

But many experts argue that scented candles are very harmful to humans and should not be used very often. They release large amounts of toxins into the air, which can cause health problems for people.

What to do? Choose paraffin or wax candles, how do they differ?

Paraffin candles - harm and benefit

Paraffin candles When burned, toxic compounds are released into the air - toluene and benzene. Benzene is used in industry. Many different products are produced based on it: rubber, plastics, synthetic rubber, paints, explosives, fabric dyes and some medications.

Benzene enters the human body through the respiratory tract. This is how people suffer from weakness, sleep disturbances and dizziness. Also, if a person inhales such a harmful substance for several years, then his liver and kidneys may work poorly, develop blood diseases and bone marrow, the functions of the circulatory and nervous systems are disrupted. In addition, acute poisoning is possible.

Toluene - an aromatic compound from which benzene is obtained. Toluene, like benzene, enters the human body through the respiratory system, and sometimes through the skin. In most cases it affects the nervous and circulatory system.

It is worth understanding that paraffin candles are quite harmful to the human body, so they need to be used several times a month. There is no need to get too carried away with these candles.

If you want to create a pleasant smell in your apartment or just lie in the bath with candles, then don’t delay this matter. A few minutes will be enough and this way you can protect yourself.

Wax candles - harm and benefit

Wax candles completely made from natural substances, they will not cause harm to health, even when a huge amount of them burns. In the old days church candles consisted of beeswax, they burned evenly and did not emit harmful substances into the air.

Nowadays, aromatic candles made from wax with propolis are gradually being replaced. These candles are not harmful to the body, but on the contrary, they are beneficial.

Such candles are often used for creating a romantic atmosphere, to relieve stress, or during epidemics. The price for them will be more expensive than for paraffin candles.

Today, soy wax is gaining popularity - it is 100% safe, cheaper than beeswax, and does not contain chemicals. Soy wax candles can be easily recycled or tinted.

What is the difference between a wax candle and a paraffin candle, how to distinguish them?

A person can already visually distinguish these types of candles. Wax products are made from a yellow tint, while paraffin products are made from a white or translucent color.

1. If you cut paraffin, it will crumble, but wax cuts smoothly and easily.
2. Wax candles do not leave a black residue.
3. If you bend a candle, the paraffin candle will fall apart, and the wax candle will only change its shape.
4. When a wax candle burns, the aroma can be honey-like, while paraffin candles give off a pungent odor.

Wax candles - video

Today, in such wonderful holiday, many lovers decorate tables and homes for the holiday, and paraffin candles of various shapes, colors and scents have become an indispensable attribute.

My question is, are they harmful? And this is what I managed to find out.

Scented candles are actually may be harmful to health. American scientists came to this conclusion. Those most at risk are people who use such candles often to create a relaxing or romantic atmosphere.

As a rule, these candles are lit in poorly ventilated areas and in the evening. Because of this, lovers of various scents sleep in a smoky room with a high content of toxic substances in the air. The first signs of harmful concentrations of carcinogenic benzene and toluene are dizziness and breathing problems. In this case, you must immediately ventilate the room and extinguish the scented candle.

Experts from the University of South Carolina have collected many varieties of scented candles and thoroughly tested them. They were interested, first of all, in the substances that are released during the burning of a candle.

It turned out that burning paraffin candles emit vapors containing various carcinogens - benzene and toluene. Toluene is a highly toxic poison that affects the body's hematopoietic function, just like its predecessor, benzene. These chemical elements They are especially dangerous for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, as they can cause a sharp exacerbation of the disease. A large amount of accumulated harmful substances can cause the development of various skin diseases and cancer.

Experts explain that Rare use of scented candles will not cause harm. However, if you start using such candles daily or on a regular basis for several years, and even in a poorly ventilated room, this can lead to serious health problems.

Alternatively Scientists have suggested switching to natural wax candles, the cost of which is higher than paraffin candles. But scientists have not detected any harmful substances when burning pure wax. To distinguish a paraffin candle from a wax candle, you need to remove shavings from the candle with a knife. Paraffin shavings will crumble.

Create at home festive mood without using scented candles too often. Or please your other half with something else. For example, in upcoming holiday On February 23rd you can purchase it on luxurywatch.ch and hide a gift somewhere in your home -

Many people involved in spiritual development and yoga often use candles. For example, lighting them while doing some kind of practice and creating a special atmosphere in the room. In yoga there is such a shatkarma (purification practice) as looking at a candle flame, called trataka. Also trataka is.

A candle is a symbol of connection with the Cosmos, the Higher Mind. Her fire is the light of our soul, our bright thoughts. Like a small sun, the fire of a candle helps transformations in a person and movement towards a righteous life. The softness and pliability of wax expresses a person’s readiness for obedience, his humility, and short burning - an unfaithful life that is easy to extinguish, its fleetingness. When a person prays while lighting a candle, he makes a sacrifice to God (instead of animals), thereby showing his respect and humility.

It is believed that if you look at the fire, it cleanses the person’s aura and the space around.

The history of candles goes back hundreds of thousands of years. The first candles were made from animal fat and oily fish, as opposed to modern candles made from wax and paraffin. Initially, they resembled a small torch. The Romans invented the wick, the Chinese and Japanese continued their work. Some used it as a wick rice paper, others rolled the papyrus into a tube and immersed it in a container containing fat. Candles were also made from resin and plant fibers. American Indians extracted wax by burning the bark of the wax tree or resin tree. Candles were also made from pine resin. Much later, cotton and hemp fibers began to be used for wicks.

In the Middle Ages, candles began to be made from bees wax. This made it possible to avoid the disadvantages of fat candles, since wax does not produce soot or unpleasant odor, it burns brightly and evenly. But fat in large quantities is easier to obtain than wax, so wax candles were expensive, just as they are now.

Invented in 1850 paraffin, from which most modern candles are made. Paraffin is obtained from oil and shale. Mass production of paraffin made it possible to make cheap candles, since it cost much less than wax and similar substances. The material for paraffin candles is, of course, paraffin, but mixed with stearin (stearin 1 gives the candle softness and makes it less fragile). Fatty dyes are used: they dissolve well in paraffin and give even, rich tones. At the end of the twentieth century, a “candle renaissance” began throughout the world. Decorative scented candles have become an indispensable attribute of the holidays, an original gift, interior decoration. In addition to traditional elongated candles, you can now find figurine candles, gel candles in glasses, floating tablets, tea candles (in an aluminum case), candles in glass containers or coconuts.

The fruits of scientific and technological progress, unfortunately, are not always favorable for people. The use of most modern candles can be very harmful to human health! This is exactly what I want to talk about below. So, why are candles harmful...

Firstly, when paraffin burns, it releases benzene and toluene into the air, carcinogens that are very harmful to living organisms. Along with carcinogenic benzene has mutagenic, gonadotoxic, embryotoxic, teratogenic and allergic effects. Toluene is a generally toxic poison that causes acute and chronic poisoning. Its irritating effect is more pronounced than that of benzene. It causes endocrine disruption and reduces performance; prolonged contact with small doses of toluene can have an effect on the blood. Due to its high solubility in lipids and fats, toluene accumulates mainly in the cells of the central nervous system.

Secondly, many manufacturers use a complex compound as a fixative for the persistence of aroma - diethyl phthalate, which chemists classify as moderately toxic. It can cause allergic reactions and eczema, dizziness, headache, irregular breathing, lacrimation, nausea and vomiting. It has teratogenic and mutagenic effects, which is very dangerous for pregnant women. With regular exposure, it can affect the nervous and respiratory systems, internal organs and blood cells, contribute to the formation of malignant tumors. By the way, this fixative is very often used in perfumery.

Thirdly, chemical (gel, stearic 1 and paraffin) candles almost all contain up to 70% of various additives, dyes, fragrances and other ingredients. Artificial additives are often used in the production of scented candles. It’s good if these flavorings have a neutral effect on human health. There is a high probability that the fragrance in the candle will be cheap, synthetic, and therefore harmful; the dye will also be used in order to reduce the cost of the product.

Even if the candle is scented with natural essential oils, the flavoring burns out in the process and its effect may be harmful. The oil gets very hot, its chemical structure changes and the aroma is distorted. Therefore, I do not recommend abusing even natural scented candles...

Rare use of paraffin candles will not cause any serious harm, but systematic use will have an impact on your body. If a paraffin candle burns in a ventilated room 2-3 times a week, for about half an hour, nothing bad will happen.

Often candles are lit in poorly ventilated areas and in the evening. Because of this, lovers of various scents sleep in a smoky room with a high content of toxic substances in the air. Be sure to ventilate the room! Scientists have stated the fact that inhaling the vapors of a scented candle throughout the evening is equivalent to several hours of passive smoking.

In small rooms, a large number of lit candles is especially dangerous. 1-2 is enough.

You should not light candles for several hours at a time and use them as an air freshener.

Buy safe scented candles made from natural wax - beeswax or soy. Beeswax candles don’t even need to be scented - they smell like honey and propolis when they burn, but suitable essential oils are often added to them. Soy wax is obtained from soybeans - they learned to make candles from it not so long ago, but they were immediately appreciated by experts. There are candles that use palm and coconut wax. To determine whether a candle is paraffin or wax, remove shavings from it with a knife. Paraffin will crumble.

Safe, naturally scented candles are sold only in specialized stores. The smallest beeswax or soy wax candle can be more expensive than a whole pack of paraffin candles.

If you set a goal, then by surfing the Internet, you can find the most diverse and original eco-friendly wax candles. Nowadays many craftsmen offer their original works. Personally, I found it very interesting option for myself - herbal-wax candles.

And my last word of advice, dear reader: carefully examine the candle wick. If you notice a metal rod in the weave of the wick, then this is a lead thread. Well, the harmful effects of lead on the cardiovascular and nervous system We have known for a long time...

I hope whoever reads this article will become more attentive to the choice of candles.

Take care of yourself and be healthy! OM.

1. Stearin(French stearine, from Greek stear - fat) - an organic product obtained from fats. It consists of stearic acid with an admixture of palmitic, oleic and other saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Now you can find vegetable stearin, it is obtained by pressing chilled coconut or palm oil.

Scented candles create a mood, relieve fatigue, envelop you in a bouquet of aromas - and release harmful chemicals.

Experts say: breathing scented vapors all evening is no less harmful than being a passive smoker for several hours. In a room where aroma candles burn for a long time, the concentration of hazardous substances in the air is approximately the same as in cigarette smoke.

Of course, there is no need to give up candles. But it is worth considering safety precautions.

You've probably noticed that aroma lamps or aroma candles often emit a scent that is not exactly the same as indicated on the package. For example, the annotation says that the candle should have the scent of orange or apple with cinnamon, but when you light it, the room smells of something unfamiliar, although pleasant.

The solution is simple: even if the candle is scented with natural essential oils, the scent burns out in the process. The oil gets very hot, the chemical structure of the substance changes, and the aroma is distorted. At the same time, the vast majority of aroma candles sold in our stores contain artificial flavors, which in themselves are not healthy.

OUT OF LUCK

More recently, the issue of the dangers of aroma candles was raised by the Oregon Environmental Council (USA). The reason was an unpleasant story that happened to Portland resident Ashley Henry. The woman was seriously fascinated by scented candles, filled the whole apartment with them - and as a result developed bronchial asthma. She developed hypersensitivity to volatile chemicals. Now in Henry's house there are not only candles, but also perfume and air fresheners. Even the flavoring components included in shampoos and washing powders cause a woman to feel a strong burning sensation in her respiratory tract and can trigger an asthmatic attack.

According to doctors, Ashley got off lightly: the substances contained in the candles can lead not only to asthma, but also to eczema and other skin diseases.

WHAT ARE THEY DANGEROUS?

Carefully read the list of ingredients on the candle label. It certainly contains the “aromatic fragrance” item. This fragrance, in turn, has a rather complex chemical composition, which manufacturers in most cases do not consider necessary to describe in detail. It would be worth it.

In particular, it has been established that many candles contain diethyl phthalate, an artificially synthesized substance, an ester of orthophthalic acid. It acts as a fixative: with its help the smell becomes durable. It has been proven that diethyl phthalate in large quantities can cause problems with reproductive system. Inhaling it is especially harmful for pregnant women: it can cause birth defects in the child.

The most popular candles are those made from paraffin: they are inexpensive and burn for a long time. But when paraffin is heated, such unpleasant volatiles are released into the air organic matter, like benzene and toluene. They hit the respiratory tract: with constant and prolonged inhalation they can lead to asthma and even lung cancer.
Another important component in a candle is the wick. It should be made of natural fabric, not lead. When heated, lead releases compounds that negatively affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems. In America, the use of lead in candle wicks was banned back in 2000; We have it allowed for now. Fortunately, such candles are easy to recognize: if a thin metal rod is visible through the white cotton of the wick, it is better to refrain from purchasing it.

WE NEED CANDLES LIKE THIS

Scented candles made from beeswax and soy wax can be considered absolutely safe. Beeswax is a 100% natural substance. When burning, such candles emit a subtle aroma of honey and propolis. Soy wax is relatively new and also completely natural product, obtained, as you might guess, from soybeans.

Compared to paraffin candles, bee and soy candles burn much cleaner, leaving virtually no soot. As a rule, they are scented with natural essential oils rather than synthetic ones. The only disadvantage of wax and soy candles is that they are the most expensive. But this is the case when you shouldn’t skimp on the holiday feeling.

TO BURN OR NOT TO BURN?

And if you have already stocked up on paraffin candles for the holiday, should you throw them away? Of course not.

• Light aroma candles only in a pre-ventilated (at least 10 minutes) room.

• Don't burn many candles at once. There are no exact safety standards - it all depends on the size of the room and the candles themselves. So be guided common sense and double your caution if there are small children or people with allergies in the house.

• Do not force candles to burn around the clock throughout the apartment.

• Do not try to mask unpleasant odors with their help.

If you burn a candle a couple of times a week for 20-30 minutes, even a paraffin candle will not cause much harm.

Text: Lyudmila Potapchuk