How Christmas Candles May Affect Your Heart and Lungs

livewell
December 17, 2024
Noah Bennett

Introduction

Decorating homes with Christmas candles and lights is one of the most beloved traditions during the holiday season. These candles create a joyful atmosphere by emitting pine, pomegranate, and peppermint scents. The smell matches the festive occasion and season, creating memorable moments. However, the health impact of these scent-giving candles can be hazardous.

Recent studies have shown that the materials used to make these candles and the scents can be harmful. These gases and chemicals in a Christmas candle impact the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. People with cardiac conditions are highly prone to the emissions of these candles.

This article will further explain the health impact of these scented candles on your heart and lungs.

Christmas and Candles : The Hidden Dangers

Traditional candles that are made from soy wax or beeswax are comparatively safer. However, the increasing trend of scented candles, given their popularity for aesthetics, is sideways increasing concerns for health impacts. Christmas scented candles contain synthetic fragrances and dyes, which release harmful chemicals when lit. Hence, these candles can not be considered safe. Further explanation is hereunder:

Air Pollution and Hazardous Breathing

Candles have been a part of various festive occasions for hundreds of years. The burning candles tradition is nostalgic for the old, as it reminds them of their childhood. However, the flame from Christmas candles, more particularly scented candles, is raising health concerns.

The candles have paraffin, a cheap byproduct of petroleum. Some scented candles have carbon monoxide, VOCs, and other such chemicals that are harmful to breathe in. When you light them, they release a complex mixture of chemicals, including:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

These chemicals irritate the eyes, throat, and nose and continuous exposure can lead to long-term health problems.

Particulate Matter

Tiny particles, present in Christmas scented candles, pile in the lungs upon inhaling and can cause respiratory problems and aggravating conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and cancer.

Carbon Monoxide

A colorless, odorless gas but deadly in high concentrations and hazardous when breathed in. While well-ventilated homes might be safe, poorly ventilated houses pose as movers for this gas.

Scented Candles Health Risks; Explained

Almost all scented and colorful candles for Christmas may contain the previously mentioned elements. The next section will further explain these scented candles’ health risks and elements that cause in detail.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-based substances present in Christmas candles, paints, cosmetics, fuel-burning appliances, cleaning products, etc. Paraffin candles also contain these elements that vaporize into the air when lit. Some of these substances are harmful, while others form pollutants after mixing with other gases in the air.

Some VOCs irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and their prolonged exposure may lead to liver and kidney damage, lung cancer, asthma, etc. Christmas candle also contains VOCs. One of these is toluene. This neurotoxin causes dizziness and headache on short-term exposure and more serious effects on long-term exposures. Consequently, The US Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory authorities have registered this colorless substance as a toxin.

Paraffin candles also release benzene, a known carcinogen. Long-term exposure may cause leukemia (blood cancer). Formaldehyde, defined as a colorless, strong-smelling, flammable chemical, by the National Cancer Institute, is another harmful substance found in scented candles. It contains carcinogens that may cause leukemia and cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Scented candles, if called indoor air pollution candles, won’t be an overstatement. They produce harmful chemicals not only when lit but also when unlit.

Other Toxic Gases

The harmful effects of candles are not limited to VOCs, they also contain other toxic gases. Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrous oxide (N2O), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are also present in smaller amounts in Christmas candles. Lighting candles in places without an effective ventilation system can aggravate the risks of their harmful effects.

Carbon Monoxide is the most harmful of these gases due to its impact on delivering oxygen to body tissues. This colorless and odorless gas causes headaches, confusion, nausea, and other symptoms. Higher exposure to CO may result in severe damage to the heart and brain, leading to death in the absence of immediate treatment.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide are also harmful to your body due to their impact on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. They irritate the nose and throat and lead to coughing and breathing problems. Patients with asthma and heart disease feel worsening of their conditions in the presence of these gases.

Particulate Matter (PM)

Particulate matter is an air pollutant that causes serious health issues when inhaled. These tiny liquid or solid droplets can penetrate deep into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream in severe cases. This makes them a risk factor for chronic conditions, such as stroke and heart disease. Christmas scented candles are more harmful than unscented candles due to their production.

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Tips to Use the Candles Safely

Use Christmas candles made from soy wax, beeswax, or other less harmful natural materials in place of paraffin candles.
For scented candles, choose options made from essential oils or those free from phthalate.
Use the candles with cotton or wood wick, and must not contain zinc, lead, or other metals.
Ensure proper ventilation by opening windows and inner ventilation.
Blowing out the candles emits more smoke than burning candles. Therefore, the safer option is to complete this process outside the room.

Keep children, seniors, and people with chronic conditions away from candle smoke.

In the End

Candles are a must to add to the Christmas festival. However, according to several researches, a Christmas candle contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), and some other gases harmful to human health. If exposed for a longer time, they can lead to chronic heart and lung conditions. On the contrary, adopting some precautionary measures can reduce these risks and ensure that you can enjoy Christmas and all the festivities safely.

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What are the harmful components of Christmas candles?

Christmas candles are usually made from paraffin and artificial fragrances. They contain volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and other harmful substances. They may cause mild to severe health conditions.

What is the difference between scented and unscented candles?

Scented candles are made from artificial fragrances. They contain additional volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a higher amount of particulate matter (PM) than unscented candles (free from artificial fragrances).

What are some safety tips for burning candles?

You can minimize risks associated with scented candles by using paraffin-free and essential oil candles instead of artificial fragrances and ensuring proper inner ventilation.